Green Nurses ? What Next !

With fears of little green people and Mark Lemstra's antii nuke report clutched in their hands the Saskatchewan
Union of Nurses said it opposes a nuclear reactor, whether for power generation or to produce medical isotopes, based on a report the union commissioned along with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
Those working in, and living near, nuclear-power plants - such as the one being considered for construction in Saskatchewan - are more likely than the general population to develop cancer or die from it, according to a research paper being released Tuesday.
"We would have the same concerns about the health of the community (if) it were an isotope reactor, the radiation concerns would remain the same," said union president Rosalee Longmoore.
"We are aware that there are proposals to expand the production of isotopes in other countries and so we believe, our position would be that Saskatchewan should remain safe and let other countries take on that development."
You really have to wonder about that statement. If it is that unsafe why would Saskatchewan nurses want to push a nuclear reactor off on another country. What about another province? Would the nurses be ok with a reactor in Alberta?
So the debate really begins to heat up with the nurses the first to go nuclear against nuclear.
Doctors have entered the debate as well along with talk show hosts and callers and numerous others.
An association representing physicians says the province needs its own independent nuclear watchdog as the Saskatchewan Party government contemplates opening the door to a nuclear reactor.
Dr. Dale Dewar, speaking on behalf of the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA), said in addition to a nuclear monitoring body, the provincial government should launch a long-term study of the health of the province's residents.
The whole reason that the SMA decided to do anything on this is because our concerns are more for the health of Saskatchewan people," Dewar said in an interview after his presentation.
"I think it's fair to say that the SMA has many members who are very supportive of nuclear energy and think that nuclear energy might possibly be an answer to global warming . . . but we all agree that we want to know more about how this impacts or how this affects health."
So the debate rages on in Saskatoon as it has for years. Worries about leaks, contaminations, green people and nurses glowing in the dark continue be discussed over and over again.
Premier Brad Wall says he is proud that Saskatchewan residents are talking about the issue but you have to wonder, how long will the talk go on before another opportunity passes Saskatchewan by.