A Dozen Questions About Nuclear Ships
by Jane Brett, April 2000
What military purpose is being served by having this carrier / this
submarine in a highly-populated civilian area at this time ? (None, there
is no military conflict here. The Victoria Chamber of Commerce welcome them
in order to boost the economy and to replace lost cruise ship dollars.)
Does the presence of nuclear powered, nuclear-weapons-capable vessels make
us a target by "the enemy"? (Who are the current enemies of
this foreign power? Are they Canada's enemies too?)
What has led us to accept this unacceptable risk ? (Desensitization,
long out-dated agreements, lack of Canadian defense policy, treason and complicity
by government leaders. Does "treason" sound too strong? Well what
do you call helping a foreign power to violate your own country's security?)
How did New Zealand eliminate nuclear traffic from its harbours ?
(The combined political will of community citizen awareness)
How many ports in Canada can nuclear submarines visit ? (Only three and
BC has got two of them: Esquimalt/Victoria, Nanoose and Halifax.)
If a fast ferry doing x knots is crossing paths with a nuclear-powered,
nuclear-arms capable submarine / aircraft carrier doing y knots, at what combined
speed will passengers "disembark" ? (Who can do the algebra on this
one?)
Why do people believe they can win a lottery against high odds but
at the same time think that high odds will protect them from disaster? (Seemingly
incomprehensible and unfamiliar statistics, lack of accident reporting and
an immunity to military environmental review are factors all of which conspire
to prevent citizen outrage.)
Are you familiar with the evacuation routes in your neighbourhood
in the event of a Chernobyl-like disaster in the shipping lanes off of Beacon
Hill park? in Esquimalt Harbour? near McMorran's ? (Could I have a copy of
the nuclear emergency information you've received in your neighbourhood ?)
If a nuclear accident occurred in the shipping lanes off of Beacon
Hill Park in Victoria, would the Coast Guard located near Ogden Point be able
to assist? (No, they have no radiation training in this location; trained
personal would come from Comox.)
Do you believe that the most technologically-powerful navy on earth, deployed
around the world and in a state of constant readiness takes time to off-load
nuclear weapons before entering Canadian territory? before visiting Victoria?
before going to Nanoose ?
Thinking of the rise of the Third Reich, at what point in Canadian history
do you think the citizenry have both the obligation and the best opportunity
to prevent this Holocaust? (NOW is the only time you may have !!!)
