THUNDER BAY – Local musician Rodney Brown has released a new music video that protests the transportation and storage of spent nuclear material in Northwestern Ontario.
Brown, in collaboration with Environment North and We the Nuclear Free North and with help from Ryan McDonald, from the Honest Heart Collective and videographer Chad Kirvin, Brown says he was able to re-record his song, Freight Train Derailed, and shoot new footage for the music video.
There have been ongoing protests around Northwestern Ontario opposing the possible burying of nuclear waste near Ignace and Brown, who is an activist himself, says he was approached by Peter Lang from Environment North to create a music video to bring awareness to the situation.
The video features clips from a recent protest in Thunder Bay where Nuclear Free Thunder Bay held a walk from MP Patty Hajdu’s office to MPP Lise Vaugeois’ office
Brown says the song is very fitting for the situation, adding that it is about the dangers of transportation of hazardous material.
“Nuclear waste is a very, very dangerous thing, they're not really sure what to do with it. We and others would like them to keep it where it is instead of going through all the processes of transportation, you know, they're talking about transportation by rail or truck,” he said.
“If it becomes an international site, they'll probably transport by ship up the Great Lakes, maybe across the Atlantic, who knows.”
Brown says music is a valuable tool to let the community know what is going on in the world, and songs can wield a lot of influence on people, and he adds that he hopes the music video inspires others to speak up and come out to protest.
“You know, it's disappointing; sometimes we think our voices aren't being heard, especially when the present government decides that they want to build another nuclear power plant when they still haven't figured out exactly what to do with all the wastes,” he said.
“So, I hope people think twice, hopefully this song makes them think twice about what's going on and maybe they'll become more involved.”
