Global Research

“All of the radiation-related fatalities…and injuries, are being written off as ‘stress.’ So, my big takeaway is the inhumanity of how the Japanese and how Tokyo Electric are treating their own people.” – Arnie Gundersen (From this week’s interview)

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The Global Research News Hour continues its commemoration of the March 2011 Fukushima Daichii nuclear disaster with two interviews addressing the state of the nuclear industry six years later.

In the first half hour, we focus our attention on Canada, the eighth largest nuclear power in the world in terms of number of operating reactors.

Canada, of course, claims to only apply the technology for peaceful purposes, consistent with its commitments under the nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty. However, as pointed out by Helen Caldicott in a past program, Canada is not only a leading exporter of uranium, it exports CANDU reactors which are efficient producers of weapons-grade plutonium. Canada’s reactors are, to quote Caldicott, “bomb and cancer factories.”

Gordon Edwards, a long-time observer and leading critic of Canada’s nuclear sector, discusses the country’s nuclear history and the institutional and other incentives behind developing the industry. He also addresses concerns about whether existing international nuclear agreements in the age of Donald Trump, ties the hands of Canadians seeking release from nuclear’s deadly embrace.

In the latter part of the program, we hear from renowned nuclear expert and educator Arnie Gundersen. Mr. Gundersen challenges assertions from the industry both in Canada and the U.S. about the safety of their reactors. He also shares lessons learned from his visit last year to Japan and what they tell us about the accountability of Japanese authorities.

Gundersen also speaks to documentation in the days immediately following the meltdowns from the U.S. National Regulatory Commission, describing a nightmare scenario involving one of the Fukushima Daichii facility’s spent fuel pools.

Gordon Edwards is president and co-founder of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. A consultant on nuclear issues and court-qualified nuclear expert, he has authored articles on the topics of radiation standards, uranium mining, nuclear proliferation and the economics of nuclear power. He is recipient of the 2006 Nuclear-Free Future Award, the Rosalie Bertell Lifetime Achievement Award, and YMCA Peacemaker Medallion. His organization’s website is ccnr.org

Arnie Gundersen is one of the directors of Fairewinds Energy Education and a nuclear engineer with over 44 years of experience in the industry. He holds a nuclear safety patent, was a licensed reactor operator, and has coordinated projects at 70 nuclear power plants in the US. His organization’s website is fairewinds.org. 

The Global Research News Hour airs every Friday at 1pm CT on CKUW 95.9FM in Winnipeg. The programme is also podcast at globalresearch.ca . The show can be heard on the Progressive Radio Network at prn.fm. Listen in everyThursday at 6pm ET.

Community Radio Stations carrying the Global Research News Hour:

CHLY 101.7fm in Nanaimo, B.C – Thursdays at 1pm PT

Boston College Radio WZBC 90.3FM NEWTONS  during the Truth and Justice Radio Programming slot -Sundays at 7am ET.

Port Perry Radio in Port Perry, Ontario –1  Thursdays at 1pm ET

Burnaby Radio Station CJSF out of Simon Fraser University. 90.1FM to most of Greater Vancouver, from Langley to Point Grey and from the North Shore to the US Border.

It is also available on 93.9 FM cable in the communities of SFU, Burnaby, New Westminister, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey and Delta, in British Columbia, Canada. – Tune in  at its new time – Wednesdays at 4pm PT.

Radio station CFUV 101.9FM based at the University of Victoria airs the Global Research News Hour every Sunday from 7 to 8am PT.

CORTES COMMUNITY RADIO CKTZ  89.5 out of Manson’s Landing, B.C airs the show Tuesday mornings at 10am Pacific time.

Cowichan Valley Community Radio CICV 98.7 FM serving the Cowichan Lake area of Vancouver Island, BC airs the program Thursdays at 6am pacific time.

Campus and community radio CFMH 107.3fm in  Saint John, N.B. airs the Global Research News Hour Fridays at 10am.

Caper Radio CJBU 107.3FM in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia airs the Global Research News Hour starting Wednesday Morning from 8:00 to 9:00am. Find more details at www.caperradio.ca