Nearly 30 years ago Dr. Helen Caldicott jolted many of us to pay attention to the madness of proliferating nuclear weapons, insisting in a film called If You Love This Planet that humans needed to change their foolish ways. She was articulate, abrasive, and forceful. The documentary won an Academy Award. As a young minister I quoted Dr. Caldicott even though she did not have a religious message. She struck me as being a fearless prophet for our time, using every means possible to make a numbed populace listen. She was and is passionate about peace.
Dr. Caldicott is in Canada at the moment, causing a stir just down the road from Bowmanville in the lovely town of Port Hope. She is speaking out about the remediation of properties in the community, the toxic legacy from the uranium refining process. She insists that the Canadian government is not being honest about the extent of the problem and that the "cure" of removing contaminated soil is nearly as bad as the original "disease" of burying the stuff all over town. She figures everyone should leave as soon as possible and the government should pay for it. Not surprisingly she has been called an alarmist and her scheduled speaking engagement in Port Hope last night was moved to Oshawa.
I heard Dr. Caldicott on the radio yesterday and she was as blunt and opinionated as ever. She does not go in for shades of gray and there is no doubt she is convinced she is on the side of the angels, whether she believes in angels or not.
I really don't know what to think. Reader Lynn lives in Port Hope and doesn't glow in the dark, but I don't want that to happen for her either, or for any other resident.
What are your thoughts about this specific situation? What do you think about people such as Caldicott who abrasively call us to action? Are they prophets or just attention-seeking agitators? Do we need more or less of them?
The problem with this issue boils down to trust; as in, "whom do you trust more? The government or Dr. Caldicott?"
ReplyDeleteI won't profess to be an expert on either side of this debate, although I do note a Toronto Star report indicating that the good doctor's interactions with the press has cost the town in terms of real estate showings and peace of mind (among other things!) What a mess.
And for the record, anyone who's seen Lynn at St. Paul's knows that she does indeed glow (in a good way, that is.)
Hmm, good discussion. I'm not sure who to trust. I haven't read enough to know what Dr. Caldicott's credentials are. I do however, automatically become concerned with a location in Northern Ontario which is where a lot of the Port Hope refining has been moved to. Camco is the company, and in the community I grew up in they are a huge employer and have done great things to the betterment of the community. I haven't heard Dr. Caldicott saying anything about that community. Is it because it is in Northern Ontario and not heavily populated?? It is located on Lake Huron and that in itself is cause for concern. . Good discussion.
ReplyDeleteI heard that the church in which she was supposed to speak decided to ban her, and that she spoke in Oshawa instead. That is too bad...do they think she has some hidden agenda against Port Hope?
ReplyDeleteI wish I could enter into an intelligent discussion on this one. Needless to say it has been a major topic of conversation around town. Much is being said in the papers both for and agin' Dr. Caldicott. I go back to my whole 'fear mongering' blog from awhile ago. Altho' Dr. Caldicott has had her 15 minutes of fame in the past perhaps it wasn't enough for her. This certainly gets her front and centre. For what purpose? Maybe she's right...BUT just maybe she is wrong and if so she has done a lot of damage. And yet another 'sigh'.
ReplyDeleteI suggested that we have a 'radio active' day and invite all of the big radio stations to come and talk about the wonderful town that Port Hope was/is and will continue to be.
Ian....you are officially on my Christmas card list!
The doctor doesn't have much of a bedside manner, that's for sure Lynn, and the people of Port Hope feel assaulted. Although some, including the feisty Farley Mowat are supportive, from what I read.
ReplyDeleteHow true about Northern Ontario Nancy. There are tailings ponds and polluted lakes and other toxic sites all over the North and rarely do we hear about it in the Banana Belt. I sure noticed our media non-existence during the 11 years we lived there.
I would love to know the congregational politics of that cancellation johnny.
Ian, you have proved that flattery will get you somewhere, or on some list!
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