Faith Communities

United Church of Canada Policy Positions:

The Saskatchewan Conference Division of Mission of the United Church of Canada passed the following resolution in 2010:

Title: High Level Nuclear Waste

Origin: Saskatchewan Conference Division of Mission

WHEREAS the fission in nuclear reactors splits atoms to release high energy and radiation, and it also reconfigures molecules in the uranium fuel rods to form 211 other residual chemicals which are radioactive for thousands of years,(1) and

WHEREAS geologists have found that there is salt water under extreme pressure underlying the rock of the Pre-Cambrian Shield, as evidenced by the inflow of water in all the deep-rock gold mines across Canada,(2) and

WHEREAS we do not want the long term toxic poisons of radium, thorium and plutonium to get into the water of Saskatchewan, since we already have a dangerous store of radium in the JEB pit, at FEB mine in McLean Lake, Saskatchewan, filled with uranium mine wastes, (3) and

WHEREAS the USA after 20 years of research and the expenditure of 13.6 billion dollars has cancelled the Yucca Mountain Repository because of underground water movement, geological fault systems, and the opposition of the citizens of Nevada.

THEREFORE be it resolved that Saskatchewan Conference of The United Church of Canada request the Provincial Government of Saskatchewan to follow the lead of the Manitoba Legislature, (4) and pass a law prohibiting the transport or storage of high level nuclear waste across Saskatchewan.

END NOTES

1. CBC News, “Storing nuclear waste a $24 billion problem,” August 18, 2009.

“Some of the Radioactive Poisons In Used Nuclear Fuel,” Adapted from Appendix F, of Atomic Energy of Canada’s Environmental Impact Statement. (see attached statement)

2. P. Fritz and S.K Frappe, Saline Waters and Crystalline Rocks, Published by The Geological Association of Canada, 1987.

3. The Globe and Mail, “The Search for a Nuclear Graveyard—40,000 metric tonnes of radioactive waste stored in sites across Canada,” by Anna Mehler Paperny, Aug. 25, 2009,

p. A 7

4. CBC News: Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, “Nuclear waste proposal slammed,”

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2009/12/18/sk-nuclear-waste-912.html

5. The Manitoba Legislature, “The High Level Waste Act.” Current as of October 15, 2009; Assented to July 17, 1987 Available at: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/r010e.php

Proposal Carried.

The Annual Meeting of Saskatchewan Conference,

The United Church of Canada,

Moose Jaw, Sask. May 28, 2010.

Energy in the One Earth Community (2000) This policy statement offers concrete recommendations to live in a much more ecologically integrated manner within the Earth community drawing on energy sources in ways that do not damage ecosystems or compromise the capacity of the Earth to meet the needs of current or future generations. See also The Nuclear and Uranium Mining Industry (2003), and Uranium Exports (1988)

Saskatchewan Conference of the United Church of Canada.(2009) Saskatchewan Conference Executive and the Saskatchewan Division of Mission are encouraging congregations to consider issues around nuclear development in Saskatchewan. All individuals and congregations are encouraged to study the document ''A Call for Critical Reflection on Uranium Mining and the Nuclear Industry in Saskatchewan''.

The KAIROS Regina Committee includes participation by Wesley (Regina) and churches of several other denominations. This year KAIROS Regina is focussing on the nuclear issue because of the proposal by the Government of Saskatchewan and Bruce Power to use nuclear power as a solution to climate change. KAIROS Regina is encouraging reflection and action in the UCC (and other churches) at the Conference and Presbytery levels. See the ''Call For Reflection'' document.(above)

Contact:

Dan Beveridge, email <Dan.Beveridge@uregina.ca>, phone 306-584-5487

Bert Pitzel, Saskatchewan representative for KAIROS Prairies & North Region: bpitzel@archregina.sk.ca

Mennonite Church of Saskatchewan Peace and Justice Committee is currently seeking to increase awareness about the nuclear industry on the assumption that nuclear energy is closely related to the military and is dangerous to the environment. To contact the committee, send an email to: oslermc@sasktel.net

Bishops question nuclear ethics. (Calgary Herald, June 18, 2009) The Alberta Conference of Catholic Bishops say serious ethical questions must be answered before any decision can be made about whether or not to build nuclear reactors in the province. The Bishops call for more public input into the nuclear power question, citing concerns about stewardship of the environment, effects on water supplies, protection of human life, security threats and adequate consultation. Read the full statement.

Saskatchewan bishops' joint pastoral letter on Nuclear Power

Bishops call for Critical Reflection on Uranium Mining and a Proposed Nuclear Power Plant in Saskatchewan

The Bishops of the Anglican, Evangelical Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic churches in Saskatchewan call on their members and all Saskatchewan citizens to consider with care the issues surrounding the proposed expansion of the uranium industry in Saskatchewan and make their views known to the Government of Saskatchewan. Read full statement