Voices United

I have to admit that reading Clarington This Week, the local paper, takes me all of five minutes most days. However, the latest issue has a number of worthwhile articles including the cover story on the possibility of two more nuclear reactors at Darlington. http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/clarington/article/95108 Whatever we may feel about a nuclear power source, it is a reminder that our area is one of the energy focal points in this province. Once again we are reminded that Energy From Waste is a grossly misleading way of describing the proposed incinerator in Clarington, to be built next to these reactors. This energy is not really necessary, and so much energy is needed to burn the garbage in the first place that the gain in negligible.

In the same paper there is an article about a report released after the decision to locate the incinerator in Courtice. It reveals that air quality in Clarington and Durham is poorer than in York region, the other partner for the incinerator. The emissions from a local incinerator will only make this worse. Why bother banning smoking in cars when we are planning to put harmful particulate in the air for everyone to breathe?

I am baffled that so few people in our region seem concerned that this project is moving forward despite the astronomical costs to the taxpayer ( a quarter billion, maybe more) and evidence that no significant incinerator has been built in North America in twenty years.

Among the group raising the concerns over the incinerator are a number of committed Christians who view this as both a health issue and a faith issue, because of the environmental impact. I urge you to get informed and make your sure your voice is heard.