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Media Advisory June 20, 2008 Release of the report from the Citizens’ Inquiry into the Impact of the Uranium Cycle: ‘Staking Our Claim for a Healthy Future’ Date/Time: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:00 am Location: Queens Park Press Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Attended by: Members of the communities of Port Hope, Haliburton and Sharbot Lake and report writer John Sewell ----------------------------- The Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium will be releasing its report of the Citizens’ Inquiry into the Impact of the Uranium Cycle: ‘Staking Our Claim for a Healthy Future’, on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 10:00am at the Queens Park Press Gallery. The Uranium Citizens' Inquiry (April, 2008) came about because of growing concerns regarding the mining and use of uranium in Ontario and the provincial government’s lack of response to a call for a moratorium. There are now 20 municipalities throughout Ontario, including the Cities of Kingston, Peterborough and Ottawa that have called for an immediate moratorium on uranium exploration and mining and a full public review of the Ontario Mining Act. Community members from Port Hope, Haliburton and Sharbot Lake will be attending the press conference. John Sewell, the writer of the report, will also be available for comment. The Inquiry was first sparked by the actions of several groups in Ontario, including the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation (which led to the jailing of former chief Professor Robert Lovelace;) the 68-day hunger strike by grandmother Donna Dillman; and the partnership of many concerned communities and citizen groups. These actions were in response to the planned exploration for uranium near Sharbot Lake, Ontario. The Inquiry offered Ontarians the opportunity to voice their thoughts, concerns, experiences, knowledge and expertise on issues related to the uranium cycle – from claim staking and exploration to the mining, enrichment, use and disposal of uranium. The Inquiry held public hearings in Sharbot Lake, Kingston, Peterborough and Ottawa, where 150 oral and written submissions were received by members of the Inquiry panel – Marion Dewar, Lorraine Rekmans, Janet Gutowski, Laurie McKnight Walker, Cameron Smith, Fraser McVie and Jamie Swift. The Inquiry witnessed factual material from experts, stakeholders and those interested in uranium, as well as commentary on community, health and social justice issues and the environment. In total, 258 submissions were made to the Inquiry and they have been archived on-line at http://www.uraniumcitizensinquiry.com
The non-government organizations that supported the Inquiry include the Greenpeace Canada, MiningWatch Canada, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, Sierra Club of Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, among others. -30- CCAMU Contacts: Wolfe Erlichman: 613-273-3986 Lynn Daniluk: 613-267-0539 -end- |
