Education on Nuclear Energy
Courtesy of Roma De Robertis
Volume 38 Issue 1, 2, & 3 | Posted: April 2, 2023
The Editor:
We represent International physicians for the prevention of Nuclear War Canada. Our attention has been drawn to a high school essay contest supported by the New Brunswick government on the topic of small modular-nuclear reactors. This is a promotional competition created by the Canadian Nuclear Society. It is asking students to write essays supportive of nuclear technology. Nowhere does it suggest that this is an extremely controversial issue with significant associated health issues and environmental harm, untenable expense, risk of nuclear weapons proliferation (with potential catastrophic global consequences) and risk of accident.
The public school system should not advocate a technology that:
- does not yet exist;
- produces waste that is toxic for millennia;
- drains billions of taxpayer dollars;
- is a nuclear weapons proliferation risk, ultimately risking the life and health of every living thing on the planet; and
- has associated risks of accident that could threaten the health of millions of people thousands of kilometres away.
The role of educators is to encourage critical thinking. The description of this essay contest does not indicate anywhere that there is another side to this technology. It does not belong in a public school essay contest.
In addition, in our view, this essay contest contravenes the New Brunswick Department of Education’s own principles. Policy 213 under section 5.0 states that an employee, DEC member or PSSC member must “avoid giving unwarranted special consideration or preferential treatment to any person or organization for any reason”
As physicians, we find promotion of this dangerous environmentally harmful technology unacceptable. We call upon the New Brunswick Department of Education to withdraw its promotion of this essay contest. Nuclear science should be taught in the curriculum, but where nuclear power is covered, there should be balanced discourse which includes its significant risks.
Cathy Vakil, MD
Assistant professor, Department of Family Medicine, Queen’s University
Dale Dewar, MD
Associate professor, College of Medicine, University of Sask.
Nancy Covington, B.Sc. (Maths & Physics), MD, Halifax
Courtesy of Roma De Robertis