World Uranium Symposium


 * World Uranium Symposium in Québec City, Canada from April 14-16, 2015 at Quebec Convention Centre
 * learn more: http://uranium2015.com/en

THE SYMPOSIUM
The World Uranium Symposium will address issues arising from the life cycle of uranium, from mining to its end-uses and byproducts for civilian or military purposes. Both scientific and community-based, the Symposium is organized around the following themes: health, environment, economy, ethics, governance, human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples. Open to the public, the symposium will host more than 300 people per day from 14 to 16 April 2014, and will include local, national and international representatives from the sectors of health, research, industry, education, civil society, policy makers and indigenous communities. Local, national and/or international media will be present. All presentations of the symposium will be posted in electronic formats (text and / or videos) after the Symposium, in French and / or English.


 * April 14 (Day 1): Uranium mines and the nuclear life cycle: health and environmental issues
 * April 15 (Day 2): Civil and military nuclear : ethics, economics and political issues
 * April 16 (Day 3): Human rights, indigenous peoples' rights and governance issues

ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
The Symposium is a collaborate effort of Physicians for Global Survival, the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Nature Québec, the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility and the Coalition for Quebec Meilleure Mine. The Symposium also receives support from the Quebec & Labrador First Nations Sustainable Development Institute, the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee, as well as from local, national, and international partners.

CONTEXT
The Symposium is occurring at a time when many organizations and governments question the future of nuclear power, currently providing about 11% of the world’s electricity. The year 2015 also marks United Nations negotiations of the Non Proliferation Treaty, an event which occurs every five years, when nations assemble to discuss the prevention of proliferation and the abolition of nuclear arms. Canada is one of the largest producers and exporters of uranium worldwide, yet its nuclear energy output is in relative decline and no new reactors have been activated since 1993. While uranium has been primarily mined from Saskatchewan, the provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia have officially banned uranium mining on their territory. Quebec has recently shut down its only nuclear reactor and is now weighing the possibility to maintain or lift the current moratorium on uranium mining. The year 2015 also marks the seventieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It will also see the tabling on a new UN treaty on climate change. The Symposium aims to tackle these different issues and to provide recommendations to decision makers to better ensure protection for the human health, global security and a safe environment.