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Students protest gas-fired power plant in Oakville By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 5 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 6, 2009 Pouring rain and November's early darkness did little to hamper Wednesday's student-led rally against a 900-megawatt, gas-fired power plant proposed for the Oakville area. About 400 students and residents turned out for the protest that saw a block-long procession snake its way from Oakville Trafalgar High School on Devon Drive to the Chisholm Educational Centre on Cornwall Road. Students holding signs with such slogans as `No Power Plant Near Homes and Schools' and `Power Plants and Homes Don't Mix,' donned surgical masks for the march in an effort to draw attention to the health concerns many have about the proposed power plant. The march was difficult to miss with a student on a megaphone leading those present in a chant of, `It's Not Fair, We Want Clean Air' while other protesters banged drums and lit their way using glow sticks. Oakville Trafalgar High School students and Presidents of the school's Environmental Club Maddy Mikulis, 17, and Kathleen Mounce, 17, organized the demonstration noting the voices of Oakville's youths need to be heard. "Maddy and I are leaving next year because we are in Grade 12, but a lot of the kids who are here tonight will be growing up with this and breathing this air for years to come," said Mounce. "It's really important for us to make a difference while we can and our voices should DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER POWER PLANT PROTEST: Candice Palmer, 16, and Nikkola Wichenko, 16, of Oakville Trafalgar High School lead a procession of students and residents in an anti-power plant march. be heard as well." Mounce and Mikulis said the students presMikulis echoed these sentiments, pointing ent were not only from Oakville Trafalgar High out that the government has already heard from School, but also from other schools in the area politicians and adults on this issue, but not from like E.J. James Public School and W.H. Morden the students and future voters of Oakville. Public School. "This is one of the first times the students Members of the newly-formed Citizens for have actually spoken up and protested against Clean Air group also joined the procession, as this power plant," she said. "I think this protest did residents who brought their dogs and small will be heard and people are going to listen to children to the rally. what we have to say." Once the procession reached the Chisholm Educational Centre, the protesters were greeted by music, hot chocolate and pizza as well as a number of Town councillors, including Mayor Rob Burton. With all protesters assembled, Mounce and Mikulis ascended a podium, fashioned out of the back of a truck, and reminded those present of the dangers they feel the power plant represents. "Our community has already been recognized as an over-polluted area," said Mounce. "We do not want a power plant that will emit 254 metric tonnes of particulate matter into our air (per year), matter that is recognized as a health risk linked to asthma, cancer and heart disease." Mikulis said putting the power plant 400 metres away from the nearest residential home and within three kilometres of 11,000 homes and 10 schools is completely lacking in common sense, given the health concerns and the possibility of industrial accidents. Questions were also raised about whether the power plant is even needed, given recent decreases in energy consumption. Mikulis also asked why the power plant is not going to Nanticoke, especially when Nanticoke's mayor has publicly welcomed it as a way of saving jobs in her community. All of these points provoked great applause and cheering from those gathered, as did Mikulis and Mounce's call for all those against the power plant to keep fighting. "It's not over and we're not done," they said. Early Christmas Sale Matthew Wallker W 350g Reg 5.99 Nov 6-12 W w Whitworth Christmas Pudding now ... Fox's o' $ 99 Limit 6 per family 2 $ C Cadbury's ' now ... Sage & On Ta t k Tasty Bake 3 99 Limit 6 per family Stuffing Reg 2.49 Dundee or Ginger Cake k Reg 6.99 Penguin 9 Pack Reg 3.99 McVities V now ... now ... Roses 100 g Reg 4.99 All Butter Brandy Snaps + 20% Free $ 99 now ... 2 $ now ... 400g Reg 17.99 $ 99 Limit 6 per family 9 99 1 99 ¢ Limit 6 per family now ... $ 99 Limit 6 per family 2 Jaffa Cakes k +100% Free 150 g Reg 5.79 $ 99 now ... 2 35 Harvard Rd. Unit 26, Guelph 519-821-2745 The Wandering Scott 4043 New St. (Walkers/New) Burlington 905-637 -BRIT (2748) Mon-Fri 10am-7pm Sat 9am-6pm Sun 11am-5pm Email us at: thewanderingscott@bellnet.ca