Readers offer their opinions on Saskatchewan’s exploration of nuclear power and how Israel is conducting the war with Hamas in Gaza.
However, if the author’s primary concern about nuclear power is the environment, he should recognize that a small nuclear power plant can offset a vast expanse of land use from both fossil and renewable sources, while keeping the lights on 24/7/365.
Nuclear power is good for electric grids. Always-on, all-weather electricity is critical for homes, schools, hospitals, emergency services, industries, farms and businesses.
Weather-dependent infrastructure cannot provide the reliable backbone our society requires without expensive and complex backup schemes. Nuclear power is a proven, non-emitting, non-weather dependent source of baseload power.
A recent U.S. study shows that nuclear host communities overwhelmingly support the nuclear plants in their neighbourhoods. Nuclear provides high-paying, high-skilled jobs, tax revenues and uses a fraction of the land that renewables require.
Other related economic drivers for Saskatchewan include nuclear supply chain opportunities (mining, construction, etc.) and increased local development of industries that demand steady, clean power (manufacturing, computing, etc).
The people of Saskatchewan should be proud of the work being done in our province to advance nuclear power, and thankful that it has not been irrationally excluded from consideration.
Thomas Carleton, Weyburn
(Editor’s note: The study referred to above was commissioned by the nuclear power industry.)
Israel shows restraint in attack on Gaza
Is he demanding Ukraine ship food, medicine and fuel into Russia? Did Churchill send supplies to Germany as he fire-bombed Dresden? Did Truman sue for peace in 1945? No, he nuked Japan into submission.
Israel is the only country that has ever restricted itself in combat, endangering its own troops, to reduce collateral damage. Hamas obscures the distinction between civilians and combatants. Its schools, mosques and hospitals are military facilities.
Israel warns civilians to move to safe areas. It fights street by street and house by house, rather than flatten terrorist areas, as anyone else would do.
Israel established tent cities for Gazans along the coast as it entered Rafah. Hamas and Islamic Jihad may have taken advantage of the ‘civilian’ migration.
Why have Arab states not formulated a plan to house Gazans temporarily in Sinai or elsewhere? Why has the Islamist crowd tolerated Hamas holding hostages? Why is it castigating Israel, rather than the Palestinians who attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023?
The Second World War allies occupied Germany and Japan until they purged their societies of the evil elements that wrought the horrors of war. Israel has the right to do the same.
Len Bennett, Ottawa
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