In the interest of dealing with this issue rationally and devoid of
politically motivated rhetoric, it would be useful for you to articulate
the issue. In doing so try to seperate fact from theoretical risk if not,
your politiocal message overshadows what might be a legitimate issue. As it
is, based on what I have read from your epistle , I dont see one.

Fred

----------
> From: David Burman <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Plutonium for CANDUs?
> Date: Thursday, April 17, 1997 5:26 PM
>
> Here's an important issue that will be of interest to HP activists.
>
> >Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Subject: Plutonium for CANDUs?
> >From:  Joe Vise <[log in to unmask]>
> >To:    [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask],
> >       [log in to unmask]
> >Date:  Thu, 17 Apr 1997 15:49:52 -0400
> >
> >FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Shepherd <[log in to unmask]>
> >            OR EMAIL TO: [log in to unmask] (Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout)
> >
> >Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout, 412-1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario,
K1N 7B7
> >
> >CNP ACTION ALERT - WEAPONS PLUTONIUM TO FUEL CANDUs? - NO THANKS!
> >
> >                                                        April 4, 1997
> >Dear friends,
> >
> >We are facing an issue of unprecedented urgency and we need your
> >help.
> >
> >Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and Ontario Hydro have put
> >forward a plan to import 100 tonnes of weapons plutonium from the
> >United States and Russia over the next 25 years. This weapons
> >plutonium will be in the form of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel bundles
> >(a mixture of plutonium oxide and uranium oxide) to be used in
> >Ontario CANDU reactors. Without any public consultation or
> >parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Jean Chretien has declared
> >that Canada supports the plan in principle. Permission has
> >already been granted to import 600 grams of plutonium from
> >nuclear weapons stockpiles for the purposes of a "test burn" in a
> >nuclear reactor located at Chalk River, Ontario.
> >
> >The test burn at Chalk River is scheduled to take place this
> >spring and the Atomic Energy Control Board has decided that an
> >environmental assessment is unnecessary. However, the Minister of
> >Natural Resources has stated "the project  would have to undergo
> >an assessment and licensing approvals by the relevant federal and
> >provincial safety, health, and environment regulatory
> >authorities." According to  Minister McLellan, the approval
> >processes would include full public review of the proposal.
> >
> >There is widespread opposition to the use of weapons plutonium
> >fuel. Throughout 1996, a number of Canadian public-interest
> >groups, including Energy Probe, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear
> >Responsibility, Nuclear Awareness Project, Concerned Citizens of
> >Manitoba, Concerned Citizens of Renfrew County and  Sierra Club
> >of Canada, wrote to members of the federal cabinet to express
> >their concerns about plutonium fuel imports. At the international
> >level, 171 environmental, peace and medical organizations issued a
> >statement on January 14, 1997 condemning the U.S. decision to
> >allow the use of plutonium fuel in commercial nuclear reactors.
> >
> >The Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout is opposed to the importation
> >and use of plutonium fuel for a number of reasons.
> >
> >This initiative will not turn "swords into ploughshares".
> >Instead, it will help launch a deadly global plutonium economy.
> >While using weapons plutonium in reactors consumes a portion of
> >that plutonium, new plutonium will be produced as waste.
> >Plutonium production worldwide is increasing and Canada is not
> >opposing it. This plan could mark the start of a "plutonium
> >economy". This would mean an ongoing supply of plutonium derived
> >from civilian and military sources will find its way into
> >countries around the world. Moreover, the importation of
> >plutonium fuel would add to Canada's nuclear waste problems.
> >
> >The plutonium fuel initiative only serves to prop up Canada's
> >declining nuclear industry and its unsustainable means of
> >generating electrical power. Nuclear reactors around the world,
> >including CANDU reactors in Canada, are being shut down long
> >before their predicted lifespan. Under the plutonium fuel import
> >plan, Canada would be committed to running specific reactors for
> >decades into the future, even if they need expensive repairs or
> >cheaper and safer energy alternatives are available. Canada would
> >be committed to supporting the nuclear industry for another
> >quarter of a century.
> >
> >The transportation of plutonium fuel in Canada poses a serious
> >potential health and safety risk. If even a small amount of
> >plutonium were to be dispersed into the environment there could
> >be disastrous consequences. International Physicians for the
> >Prevention of Nuclear War, a Nobel-prize-winning organization,
> >has estimated that 27 micrograms of insoluble plutonium-239 in
> >the lungs would be sufficient to cause cancer in an adult human
> >being. (Plutonium:  Deadly Gold of the Nuclear Age, International
> >Physicians Press, 1992, p. 148). At that rate, the 600 grams of
> >plutonium (equivalent to 600 million micrograms) for the proposed
> >Chalk River test burn is theoretically enough to kill about 3/4 of
> >the population in Canada.
> >
> >The security measures necessary to safeguard the importation of
> >plutonium would affect the civil liberties of Canadians. Because
> >the proposed plan necessitates shipping nuclear weapons-usable
> >plutonium over enormous distances, it might well increase the
> >likelihood that such material could fall into the hands of
> >terrorists. The US National Academy of Sciences has stated that
> >shipments of plutonium fuel will require security measures
> >equivalent to those needed for transport of nuclear weapons. The
> >Harvard Law School and the United Kingdom Royal Commission on
> >Environmental Pollution have stated that the security measures
> >and civil liberties implications of using plutonium as an article
> >of commerce are a serious concern.
> >
> >The federal government's support for the plutonium fuel
> >initiative is not based on any open democratic process. Please
> >contact your elected federal representatives and tell them that
> >the plutonium fuel test-burn and subsequent import plans should
> >not go forward.
> >
> >We are enclosing a letter you can send to your MP and a sign-on
> >letter which if returned to CNP will be forwarded to the Prime
> >Minister and the Ministers of Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs,
> >and Environment. Please copy and distribute these letters to your
> >friends and colleagues. We suggest you also write to your
> >provincial Premier.
> >
> >Please send us  copies of your letters to the Prime Minister,
> >Members of Parliament and other politicians so  we can keep a
> >record of public opposition. We want to know about your efforts
> >to stop the import of weapons plutonium fuel. Thank you.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >                   Kristen Ostling
> >                     Coordinator
> >
> >Write to your MP and the Prime Minister postage-free:
> >
> >   House of Commons
> >   Ottawa Ontario  K1A 0A6
> >You can fax the Prime Minister at  613-941-6900 or telephone:
> >613-992-4211
> >
> >-----------------------------------------------------------------
> >Two sample letters follow:
> >
> >Please complete and return to CNP by April 23, 1997 (by fax:
> >613-241-2292, by mail: 412-1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario,
> >K1N 7B7). We will forward your letters to Parliament Hill.
> >-----------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >                                                      April 1997
> >
> >The Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada
> >The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Natural Resources
> >The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
> >International Trade
> >The Honourable Sergio Marchi, Minister of Environment
> >House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
> >
> >Dear Prime Minister Chretien and Ministers McLellan, Axworthy and
> >Marchi:
> >
> >Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and Ontario Hydro have put
> >forward a plan to import 100 tonnes of weapons plutonium from the
> >United States and Russia over the next 25 years. This weapons
> >plutonium will be in the form of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel bundles
> >(a mixture of plutonium oxide and uranium oxide) to be used in
> >Ontario CANDU reactors. Without any public consultation or
> >parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Jean Chretien has declared
> >that Canada supports the plan in principle. Permission has
> >already been granted to import 600 grams of plutonium from
> >nuclear weapons stockpiles for the purposes of a "test burn" in a
> >nuclear reactor located at Chalk River, Ontario.
> >
> >The plutonium fuel test burn and subsequent import plans should
> >not go forward for the following reasons:
> >
> >This initiative will not turn "swords into ploughshares".
> >Instead, it will help launch a deadly global plutonium economy by
> >increasing the accessibility and potential for proliferation of
> >this nuclear explosive.
> >
> >The plutonium fuel initiative only serves to prop up Canada's
> >declining nuclear industry and its unsustainable means of
> >generating electrical power. Under the plutonium fuel import plan
> >Canada would be committed to running specific reactors for decades
> >into the future, even if they need expensive repairs or cheaper
> >and safer energy alternatives are available.
> >
> >The transportation of plutonium fuel in Canada poses a serious
> >potential health and safety risk. If even a small amount of
> >plutonium was dispersed into the environment there could be
> >catastrophic consequences.
> >
> >The security measures necessary to safeguard the importation of
> >plutonium would affect the civil liberties of Canadians.
> >Shipments of plutonium fuel will require security measures
> >equivalent to those needed for the transport of nuclear weapons.
> >
> >I urge you to reverse your decision allowing the import of
> >mixed-oxide plutonium fuel.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >Signature:
> >Name:
> >Address:
> >
> >-----------------------------------------------------------------
> >Please add your MP's name to this letter and send it postage-free
> >to the House of Commons by April 23, 1997.
> >Please forward a copy of your letter to CNP, 412-1 Nicholas
> >Street,Ottawa, K1N 7B7.
> >...............................................................
> >
> >                                                   April 1997
> >.  .  .  .  .
> >House of Commons
> >Ottawa, Ontario
> >K1A 0A6
> >
> >Dear
> >
> >Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and Ontario Hydro have put
> >forward a plan to import 100 tonnes of weapons plutonium from the
> >United States and Russia over the next 25 years. This weapons
> >plutonium will be in the form of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel bundles
> >(a mixture of plutonium oxide and uranium oxide) to be used in
> >Ontario CANDU reactors. Without any public consultation or
> >parliamentary debate, Prime Minister Jean Chretien has declared
> >that Canada supports the plan in principle. Permission has
> >already been granted to import 600 grams of plutonium from
> >nuclear weapons stockpiles for the purposes of a "test burn" in a
> >nuclear reactor located at Chalk River, Ontario.
> >
> >The plutonium fuel test burn and subsequent import plans should
> >not go forward for the following reasons:
> >
> >This initiative will not turn "swords into ploughshares".
> >Instead, it will help launch a deadly global plutonium economy by
> >increasing the accessibility and potential for proliferation of
> >this nuclear explosive.
> >
> >The plutonium fuel initiative only serves to prop up Canada's
> >declining nuclear industry and its unsustainable means of
> >generating electrical power. Under the plutonium fuel import plan
> >Canada would be committed to running specific reactors for decades
> >into the future, even if they need expensive repairs or cheaper
> >and safer energy alternatives are available.
> >
> >The transportation of plutonium fuel in Canada poses a serious
> >potential health and safety risk. If even a small amount of
> >plutonium was dispersed into the environment there could be
> >catastrophic consequences.
> >
> >The security measures necessary to safeguard the importation of
> >plutonium would affect the civil liberties of Canadians.
> >Shipments of plutonium fuel will require security measures
> >equivalent to those needed for the transport of nuclear weapons.
> >
> >I request that you urge the government to reverse its decision
> >allowing the import of mixed-oxide plutonium fuel.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >Signature:
> >Name:
> >Address:
> >
> >
> >
> David Burman            [log in to unmask]
> LETS Toronto            phone: 416-978-0536
>                         fax:   416-878-8511