Documentary a must see for some area communities, says film researcher

A new documentary could be called a must-see for five Northwestern communities considering storing nuclear waste beneath their towns.

“I wouldn’t want to be walking in their shoes,” said Charlene Rogers, film researcher for the Environmental Film Network.

The local film group is bringing the feature-length film Into Eternity to Lakehead University Wednesday night to bring a new perspective to the issue.


Several northern communities, including Ignace and Ear Falls, are in talks with Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization to possibly house a deep geological nuclear waste depository – a system of underground caverns that would house the country’s nuclear waste.

“The economic situation in Northwestern Ontario makes it really appealing to enter into discussions with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization,” said Rogers. “I think they should absolutely see this film. It would help them, I think, think in the long-term and not just in the immediate economic benefits that are created by it.”

Into Eternity takes the audience to Finland, where the world’s first deep geological depository is under construction. Rogers said the film is philosophical in its approach and doesn’t explore the scientific or environmental impacts.

“The filmmaker really just wanted to ask a bunch of questions around what this really means for us as a culture, as a society, as a world,” she said. “He takes a long-term approach; he comes in asking questions to future generations, saying ‘what do you think of what we’ve done?’”


The Environmental Film Network presents Into Eternity at Lakehead University in room UC1017 (near the security office) tonight at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.