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1) CITIZENS' URANIUM INQUIRY: LEAD STORY ON
APTN
2) SUPPORT ROBERT LOVELACE AND THE KI SIX
3) APPEAL DATE: ROBERT LOVELACE AND THE KI SIX
4) MAY 26 - 29th - TENT CITY PLANNED FOR QUEEN'S PARK
5) FAMU AND CCAMU AT THE MAPLEFEST REPORT
6) PUBLIC INFO SESSION ABOUT URANIUM MINING: PERTH
7) TORONTO CITIZENS' INQUIRY: REPORT
8) URANIUM NEWS UPDATE
9) KINGSTON AREA ARTISTS ART AND GIFT AUCTION
10) ARTISTS FOR ROBERT LOVELACE BENEFIT CONCERT IN KINGSTON
- TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
11) DR. GORDON EDWARDS' NUCLEAR LECTURE IS NOW AVAILABLE:
YOUTUBE
12) POEM "NO URANIUM MINE"
13) ARTICLE: B.C. SHUTS DOOR ON URANIUM PROJECTS
14) ARTICLE: FUEL FOR THOUGHT
1) CITIZENS' URANIUM INQUIRY: LEAD STORY
ON APTN
The Inquiry was the lead story on APTN news on April 23, 2008.
http://www.aptn.ca/streaming/index.php?wmv=wednesday/six
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2) SUPPORT ROBERT LOVELACE AND THE KI SIX
Protest Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
12pm. Thursday, May 8, 2008
Westin Ottawa Hotel (11 Colonel By, Just South of Rideau St)
No New Ipperwash!
Join ACT for the Earth for a rally in solidarity with Robert Lovelace,
the KI-6, and the Tyendinaga of the Bay of Quinte, during Premier McGuinty's
speech to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. Join us in calling on the Premier
to put a stop to the persecution of Indigenous peoples for the sake of
corporate greed!
www.ACTfortheEarth.org
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3) APPEAL DATE: ROBERT LOVELACE AND THE
KI SIX
Robert Lovelace and six members of the KI (Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug)
First Nations have been incarcerated for 6 months for contempt of court.
Their sentences will be appealed on May 28th at the Court of Appeal: Osgoode
Hall, Queen & University Aves, Toronto.
According to their lawyer, Christopher Reid, "they all confirmed
that it would be pointless to ask to be released before receiving assurances
from Ontario that their land is free from the threat of exploration. They
are all prepared to 'do their time', as is Bob".
A large and supportive presence in the courtroom is required in order
to show politicians in Toronto that we want this issue out of the courts
and into a political solution... stay tuned for transportation information.
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4) MAY 26 - 29th - TENT CITY PLANNED FOR
QUEEN'S PARK
This in from Susan DeLisle:
We in Kingston will actively participate in planning a Kingston contingent
to the Queen's Park Tent City week May 26-29th, and facilitate contingents
from all other cities and regions.
If you are interested in attending the Tent City on Queen's Park in solidarity
with indigenous communities across Ontario who are demanding justice,
sign up to our list serve.
Note: this is for everyone interested in attending - you don't need to
be organizing it to attend. If you do want to volunteer time to help make
this happen before hand, please email: may22tentcity@gmail.com
email:
may22tentcity-subscribe@googlegroups.com and follow the instructions
(Editors Note: If there are other groups from the Ottawa Valley region
planning to go, please let me know so we can advertise rides, etc.-LD)
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5) FAMU AND CCAMU AT THE MAPLEFEST REPORT
The warm weather brought out thousands of people to the Maplefest this
year and with it, hundreds that support a moratorium on uranium mining.
A very colourful booth was organized by the Folks Against Mining Uranium,
which drew attention to the cause. A dozen FAMU and CCAMU volunteers were
on hand to share information and encourage people to sign our petition.
By the end of the day we had over 400 signatures and distributed 700 CCAMU
pamphlets (we came with only 200 so thank goodness for photocopiers).
A big thank you to Sylvia Van Oort who arranged for the booth and provided
the tent, table and flowers. Thanks also goes out to our volunteers; Willa
Murry, Erin Regan, Bronwen Gemmill, Ryan, Ormond Lee, Ron Brownlee, John
Miller, Karmi and Beth Robertson Mavrick Spuehler and Roland Spuehler.
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6) PUBLIC INFO SESSION ABOUT URANIUM MINING:
PERTH
Educate yourself about the health risks and consequences of uranium mining.
Date: May 7th, 2008
Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm, speakers start at 7pm
Location: St. Johns Catholic High School, 2066 Scotch Line Rd. Perth
Guest Speakers: Frank Morrison, Mireille LaPointe and John Kittle.
Entertainment: Terry Tufts and Dwain Scudder
All speakers will be available for a general question period. Come treat
yourself to some homemade goods while informing yourself about uranium.
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7) TORONTO CITIZENS' INQUIRY: REPORT
Report on the Toronto Citizens' Inquiry by organizer Paul York. Contact
at pyork_2002@hotmail.com
The Toronto Citizens' Inquiry on Uranium Mining was well-attended and
considered by all to be a great success, despite lower than normal attendance
due to a TTC strike started the night before. Every speaker but one spoke
against uranium mining and that it should end.
The event was organized by Students Against Climate Change and funded
in part by two student unions at University of Toronto GSU, UTSU). The
MC was Father Bob Holmes, a member of Christian Peacemakers Team. CPT
volunteers Joel Klassen and Rosemarie Milazzo assisted throughout.
The Inquiry opened with a lengthy First Nations religious ceremony, including
a smudge ceremony performed by Catherine Longbow, testimony and water
ceremony by Erin Chiblow (Ashinabe, Mississauga FN), the Sacred Earth
drum circle, and a prayer to the Creator by Rev. Ralph Carl Wushke. Erin
Chiblow's young nephew opened the ceremony with a moving song and drum
ceremony.
Much of the interest around mining in Toronto is focused on the struggle
of the First Nations groups KI and Ardoch Algonquin. We heard from Chris
Reid, lawyer for both groups. Lorraine Rekmans, an aboriginal woman from
the Serpent River FN and author of "This is my Homeland" (about
the effect of uranium mining near Eliot Lake) spoke about the fact that
this struggle revolves around water.
The participation of the FN peoples in this Inquiry made it a success,
since First Nations are at the forefront of the opposition to mining in
Ontario and have suffered its negative effects most, historically. It
was evident from the testimony of the many FN speakers that there is also
much deeper appreciation for the land than in urban industrial civilization,
which violates the land and water with mining and other resource extraction
industries and unsustainable development. Also instrumental in this Inquiry
was the participation of Donna Dillman, who originally inspired it, with
her hunger strike a few months ago - without which most of us in Toronto
would not be aware of what is happening at Sharbot Lake.
Kevin Best, an aboriginal man experienced in opposition to mining spoke
about non-violent resistance to mining and respect for women and connected
to respect for Mother Earth.
Dr. Jorge Sorger of McMaster University spoke on the historical experience
of First Nations peoples in South and Central America and the long history
of oppression tied to gold mining and indigenous resistance, which continues
to this day (there are two protests in Toronto over gold mining, on May
6 and 20).
Rosalia Paiva, an indigenous woman from Peru spoke about a Mother Earth
religion called Pachumama and need for continued resistance to colonial
oppression. She spoke in Spanish, translated by Joel Klassen.
Many First Nations people were in the audience, having received notices
of the Inquiry at the well-attended and very moving Queen's Park rally
the previous Wednesday called by the Grand Chiefs of Ontario.
At the break we heard trumpet player Michael Johnson and folk singer Tom
Smarda. The Health forum was featured experts on cancer prevention and
radiation, Dorothy Goldin-Rosenberg and Marion Odell (ICPH), who both
gave a detailed presentation on the dangers of uranium to human tissue.
Derrick Kelly spoke about the effects of the uranium processing plant
in Port Hope.
There was a Community Resistance to Mining forum with excellent contributions
from Donna Dillman, Mike Nickerson and Frank Morrison. Bruce Cox, Executive
Director of Greenpeace Canada gave a compelling slideshow on the uranium
life cycle. Chai Khelavar delivered his witty poetry on uranium, global
warming and the state of the world.
Representative from several community groups spoke on the dangers and
problems of uranium, in terms of nuclear energy and use in weapons (nuclear
and conventional), and the need for renewable energy and nuclear disarmament
and decommissioning instead. These included Judith Deutsch (Science for
Peace), Adrian Mugnatto-Hamu (Toronto Climate Campaign), and Karen Buck
(Citizens for a Safe Environment).
Scheduled to speak but unable to due to time constraints were Murray Lumley
of CPT (on depleted uranium), Margarat Sumadh of KAIROS, a speaker from
Venezuala We Are With You (on indigenous solidarity), Angela Bischoff
(Greenspiration), and Sharon Howarth (Next Generation). They were all
gracious about it.
Also scheduled was the letter from Bob Lovelace, which unfortunately we
did not manage to obtain a copy of (our apologies to Chief Lovelace for
the omission). Chief Paula Sherman and Dr. Gordon Edwards were also originally
scheduled but for different unforeseeable reasons could not join us.
The only contentious issue of the day revolved around the question of
green capitalism and the question of whether mining can be reformed: first
Barry Weisleder of NDP Socialist Action condemned all forms of capitalism.
He was followed by Frank DeJong of the Green Party of Ontario who praised
green capitalism and defended the right of mining companies to do business,
but with some regulations. DeJong's presentation unsettled several active
Green Party members who were present.
The entire exchange is part of an ongoing debate within the Toronto Green
Party community, some of whom do not entirely agree with DeJong's free
market perspective. In response to DeJong, Paul York of Students Against
Climate Change spoke against green capitalism, adding that industrial
mining cannot be reformed and must be ended entirely, which Dr. Sorger
agreed with strongly.
It should be added that other political parties were invited but chose
not to attend and that "Mega Uranium" corporation of Toronto
was invited and did respond, but only to find out more information about
the event, not to accept the invitation.
Dwaine Scudder and the Raging Grannies closed the day with some humour.
Txus the activist clown made some very artistic "Free Bob Lovelace"
t-shirts for presenters.
In addition to CPT many people volunteered their time to make this happen,
including Angela Bischoff, Pieter Basedow, Rita Bjon, Sameem Ashraf, Margaret
Sumadh, Murray Lumley, Dr. Shree Mulay, Melodie Carew, Erin Chiblow, Kevin
Best, Tanya Speight, Indra Noyes, Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, Barry Weisleder,
Donna Dillman, Marylin Crawford, Wolfe Erlichman, and Allyson Stone. Hart
House staff were also very helpful. Baby the activist dog was also present
and participated throughout and referred to as "brother dog"
by Rosalia Paiva.
The event was professionally filmed and is being edited down for YouTube
and to form part of the depositions to go Queen's Park and the media and
public; the Youtube links, when ready, will be sent to Uranium News.
A press release went out but Toronto media generally don't cover community
meetings; however, a reporter from Now magazine was present and is writing
a story on the issue of the KI and AAFN struggles (to appear this Thursday?).
Sam Kuhn, a co-organizer of the event, is now working on a similar event
for Belleville, to occur in the Organic Underground.
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8) URANIUM NEWS UPDATE
Many people send in news articles that they would like to see featured
in the Uranium News. Often I get an article several times from different
sources and people want me to reprint the entire piece. The problem is
I do not always have the permission to do so. If the original author sends
me something in, then it is easy to get permission but for a major publication
or internet news source, I usually have arrange to speak to the managing
editor. It is often very expensive to buy the copyrights to an article.
For example if I want to reprint articles that are featured in the Ottawa
Citizen, it will cost CCAMU $50 per item, even if the article is about
our protest.
Another solution I have recently used is to print the first couple of
paragraphs and then a link to the article on-line so people can finish
reading it. This presents two problems: 1) the links to on-line articles
often die after a period of time and 2) I just found out that I can only
reprint the title and then one or two lines of an article or I am infringing
copyright.
So, long story short, if you want to save an article, please be sure
to copy it for your own personal use as I can not archive all of the articles
on the CCAMU website.
Please do continue to send in articles, (as this lightens my workload)
and be sure to include the original link. If it is at all possible, speak
to the author about copyright permission and then forward it on with the
rest of the material.
Thanks,
Lynn Daniluk
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9) KINGSTON AREA ARTISTS
ART AND GIFT AUCTION
Date: Saturday May 3rd
Time: 8 pm (preview 7-8)
Location: IntuMotion Dance Studio, 275 Queen Street (at Barrie), lower
level.
Protect Mother Earth and buy your gifts for Mother's Day.
Refreshments provided. Payment can be made by cheque or cash.
Proceeds to AAFN/Lovelace/Sherman NO URANIUM Legal Defense Fund.
For more info or to donate artwork contact:
Sylvia Söderlind ss8@queensu.ca
Phone: 613-533-6000 ext. 74428
Fax: 613-533-6872
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10) ARTISTS FOR ROBERT
LOVELACE BENEFIT CONCERT IN KINGSTON - TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Date: June 14th, 2008
Time: 7pm
Location: Sydenham United Church, Kingston
Cost: $30 (unreserved seating) or $100 "Free Bob Supporter Package"
which includes, preferred seating, compilation CD and artist after-show
party.
Tickets Available at: Kingston Grand Theater www.grandtheater-kingston.com,
Brian's Record Option, Novel Idea or Tara's Natural Food.
Line-up includes: Bruce Cockburn, Michael Ondaatje, Susan Aglukark, David
Francey, Jenny Whiteley, Joey Wright, Steven Heighton, Terry Tufts, Unity
and the Algonquin Drummers.
All proceeds go to Robert Lovelace.
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11) DR. GORDON EDWARDS'
NUCLEAR LECTURE IS NOW AVAILABLE: YOUTUBE
The rest of Dr. Gordon Edwards' nuclear/uranium lecture is now available
on Youtube. We have parts 1-4 on the CCAMU website and will be linking
the other 5 within a few days.
This is a must see series!
Part One:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zomKZfARE38&feature=related
Part Two:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=51-CQDos_pc&feature=related
Part Three:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WXO4SGqgr2E&feature=related
Part Four:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ki2tm7BiSPE&feature=related
Part Five:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Aew7MzBqPI
Part Six:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23KORE04ms0
Part Seven:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjEb3F42wSM
Part Eight:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-GmbjQtmnQ
Part Nine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGZNj3SzfzI
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12) POEM "NO URANIUM MINE"
Uranium is deadly
it ruins our environment,
pollutes our water,
makes people sick,
might lead to cancer.
We have no rights,
if the prospector smells minerals,
all your rights disappear.
Then the miners come
and ruin your land.
When the miners are gone,
your land will look like a desert.
Nothing will be left,
and they will not even clean up,
they leave you with the mess.
People think that uranium will not harm,
but the chemicals get airborne
and can travel miles with the wind.
So wake up and smell the fresh air,
we might not have it for too long.
The government is doing nothing
and all they want is the money.
They don't care about our health,
while they are sitting in rich houses and their rich cars,
while we are getting sick.
Let us do something to stop the insanity,
and tell them to move on.
The miners are a coming,
and we need to make a stand.
Mavrick Spuehler
St. Johns Catholic High School Grade 11 Student
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13) ARTICLE: B.C. SHUTS DOOR ON URANIUM
PROJECTS
By Wendy Stueck
Globe and Mail
April 25, 2008
VANCOUVER -- British Columbia has slapped an official moratorium on uranium
exploration and development in the province, reinforcing a long-standing
informal ban on the nuclear fuel and dashing the hopes of companies that
hoped to take advantage of soaring prices for the commodity.
To read the rest of this article go to,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080425.RURANIUM25
/TPStory/?query=B.C.+shuts+door+on+uranium+projects
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14) ARTICLE: FUEL FOR THOUGHT
Canada's uranium boom
Jan. 22, 2007
CBC News
There's no commodity quite like uranium.
After processing, it's used primarily as fuel in nuclear power reactors
to generate electricity. But unlike other fuels, such as oil, coal, or
natural gas, the cost of uranium doesn't really seem to affect the demand.
To read the rest of this article go to,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/energy/uranium-canada.html
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