University of British Columbia Press Nuclear Waste Management in Canada: Critical Issues, Critical Perspectives

As oil reserves decline and the environment becomes more prominentin public policy discussions, the merits and dangers of nuclear powerand nuclear waste management continue to be debated. Canada is intenton building more reactors to increase energy production without harmingthe planet, but it and other nuclear energy-producing countries facenot only technical problems but also social and ethical issues. Nuclear Waste Management in Canada provides a criticalcounterpoint to the favourable position taken by government andindustry. The contributors build their case by exploring the followingkey issues and developments: What do frequently used terms such assafety, risk, and acceptability really mean? How and why did the publicconsultation process in Canada fail to address ethical and socialissues? What is the significance and potential of a public consultationprocess that involves diverse interests, epistemologies, and actors,including Aboriginal peoples? And how do we ensure that the frameworksfor discussion are inclusive and ethical? This collection is a timely antidote to the uncertainty, ambiguity,and ignorance that surrounds discussions about nuclear energy.