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Plutonium found outside Japan's nuclear plant

March 29 2011 //

Low-risk levels of plutonium have been found in the soil at the Fukushima power plant in Japan. Experts believe that the source may be from fuel rods or from damage from one of the reactors. Plutonium is a by-product of atomic reactions also used in nuclear bombs.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says that the plutonium is not at the level that’s harmful to human health. Despite this reassurance, Japan’s nuclear safety agency was not optimistic, calling the situation worrisome.

The Fukushima plant is heavily damaged from the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March eleven. More than twenty eight thousand people are still missing or confirmed dead.

With radiation already contaminating food and water supplies, some government officials are looking into extending the twenty kilometre evacuation zone.

The crisis at the Fukushima plant marks the worst atomic catastrophe since Chernobyl in nineteen eighty-six.

Government: Quebecers Consume Too Much Water

March 29 2011 //

Residents of Quebec will soon be encouraged to turn off their water taps. Quebecers use more water than any other province in Canada.

On Monday, the provincial government announced new rules to control this overconsumption. Towns in the province will have to measure their water consumption and come up with a plan to cut back.

The rules include installing equipment to detect and fix water leaks, using water meters, and submitting a yearly water report.

The Quebec government estimates this will reduce water production by 20 percent. This will save $2 billion over 20 years.

CJLO 2011 CSU Election Coverage: President

March 28 2011 //

Erica Fisher spoke to both Presidential hopefuls about mobilizing students, university governance and solidarity.

Khalil Haddad is the Presidential candidate for the Action slate.

Lex Gill is the Presidential candidate for the Your Concordia slate.

Click below to hear from both candidates.

Plane Crash Averted

March 28 2011 //

A plane crash was averted when the landing gear was deployed at the very last second Sunday. The front landing gear of a Bombardier aircraft did not deploy on the first landing. It was forced to try again. This time it worked. Only moments before the plane would have teetered on its nose in a crash.

Similar incidents have become alarmingly frequent with Bombardier airplanes across several continents. Incidents have multiplied over the last few months. Bombardier is investigating the developing landing-gear problems.

Rebel forces advancing in Libya

March 28 2011 //

Libyan rebel forces closed in Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte on Monday. Their rapid advance comes from powerful international airstrikes against Colonel Gadhafi’s troops.

The rebel’s offensive has restored to the opposition all the territory they lost over the past week. The fighters are now only within one hundred kilometers from Gadhafi’s power at the center of the country.

Sirte is a city with a significant air and military base. Colonel Gadhafi has made it Libya’s second capital over the years. The city of a hundred thousand is dominated by the leader’s Gadhadhfa tribe. But many are part of the Firjan, a rebel tribe who are against Gadhafi’s rule. Rebels are hoping to encourage them and other tribes there to rise up and to help in their capture of the city. Its fall to the rebels would largely open their way to move on the capital of Tripoli.

About halfway between the two lies Libya’s third largest city of Misrata. The city has been under rebel hands for the past month and a half. Misrata came under renewed shelling on Monday.

Both the rebel and Gadhafi forces were right in predicting a tough fight which won’t be conceded easily.

CSBC Annual General Meeting

March 28 2011 //

The Concordia Student Broadcasting Coporation 2011 Annual General Meeting will be taking place on April 8, 2011 at 6:30 pm at the Loyola campus in room CC-310.

Elections will be taking place for the following seats:

-1 Student Member
-1 CUTV or Ham Radio Member
-1 CJLO Member
-1 Community at Large Member

Anybody who wants to run for a position on the board of directors must send a letter of intent to Sabine Friesinger, secretary, at sabineCSBC@gmail.com by 5pm on April 6th 2011. Non CJLO, CUTV or HAM student members who wish to run for or attend and vote for the student seat on the board must first submit an application for membership which can be downloaded here:

CSBC Application For Membership

Please see the agenda here: Agenda

CJLO 2011 CSU Election Coverage: VP External

March 28 2011 //

Erica Fisher and Joel Balsam spoke to both VP External hopefuls about the campaign so far and plans for next year.

Georges Alexandar is the VP External & Campaigns candidate for the Action slate.

Chad Walcott is the VP External candidate for the Your Concordia slate.

Click below to hear from each candidate.

CSU 2011 Elections

March 28 2011 //

If you're a Concordia undergraduate student, don't forget to get out and vote!

Polling stations will be open March 29, 30, 31, from 10am to 8pm.

All Concordia undergrads (who are registered for at least one (1) class for the fall semester) are eligible to vote, and may do so at one of the following locations:

Hall Building (Lobby and 4th Floor), AD, EV, GM and VA (Lobby), Webster Library (Atrium), MB, CJ and SP (Lobby), Vanier Library (Atrium), CC bldg. (4th Floor).

You must present your student ID card to a polling clerk at the polling station. They will then give you your proper ballots. After filling out the ballots, just drop them into the ballot box and you are done!