Activists play out disaster scenario of nuclear meltdown in Toronto

    Toronto, May 12 /CNW Telbec/ - A group of radiation-poisoned Torontonians
stricken and dying on the sidewalk. Rescue teams with Geiger counters,
stretchers and gas masks. This was the scene at several locations in downtown
Toronto today where Greenpeace activists staged the aftermath of an accident
at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.
    The "street theatre" is part of Greenpeace's 30km.ca campaign, which
highlights the evacuation radius of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. If a
similar accident occurred at Pickering - the world's closest nuclear station
to a major population centre - roughly 2.5 million people would be displaced
from Yonge Street to Clarington.
    The campaign is aimed at putting pressure on the McGuinty government to
shut down the four Pickering "B" reactors when they reach the end of their
operational life in 2014 instead of spending billions to rebuild them. The
McGuinty government will decide whether it extend the life of the Pickering
station in early 2009.
    "Pickering is Canada's oldest and most dangerous nuclear station and is
only 30 kilometers from downtown Toronto. It should be shut down in 2014, not
rebuilt," said Shawn-Patrick Stensil, an energy campaigner with Greenpeace.
"Regulatory authorities would never allow Pickering to be built today given
the risks evidenced by Chernobyl, so they shouldn't rebuild it either."
    Greenpeace is concerned that Pickering is becoming more of a threat to
Toronto as it ages. At re-licensing hearings in Ajax Wednesday, the group will
ask the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to increase its oversight of the
nuclear station over the next five years. Recently disclosed safety studies
obtained by Greenpeace show that the plant's safety margins have been reduced.
    "The Pickering nuclear station is an unnecessary risk when
quick-to-deploy, safe renewable energy alternatives exist," said Stensil. "We
should prepare for Pickering's closure by developing green power to replace
it."
    Activists will also bring their street theatre to Scarborough Town
Centre, Durham Regional Headquarters and the town halls of Pickering, Oshawa
and Clarington on Tuesday before ending in Ajax at the CNSC hearing. At each
stop, the public will be encouraged to visit 30km.ca, write letters of protest
to McGuinty and find out if they are in "The Zone" by entering their postal
code.

For further information: Brian Blomme, Media and Public Relations
Officer, (416) 930-9055; High resolution photos will soon be available at
www.greenpeace.ca/gallery.