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AUGUST 14th , 2008 |
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IN THIS ISSUE: 1) IS IT TRUE? HAS DRILLING BEGUN? MIREILLE
COMMENTS 1) IS IT TRUE? HAS DRILLING BEGUN? MIREILLE COMMENTS Kwey all The result of unsubstantiated stories is often negative and quite damaging. This is a case in point. I don't know where this rumour is coming from but I have confirmation from a sure and substantiated source that NO drilling is happening. There is a skidder working and making lots of noise, but no drilling. We have NOT lost the fight.... and I am not discouraged. On Wednesday, our negotiators and lawyer are meeting with the government to restate our position. It has never changed from the beginning. There will be a hearing on August 27, 9:30 a.m. - MNR vs FVC. We'll see how it plays out and we plan on being there. We will be at the MNDM "consultations" on August 28, 2008 - Kingston, ON - Radisson Hotel, 1 Johnson St., Harbour Front, "Harbour Shadows" room, 7-9 pm On Friday, at 10am, (Editors note: this was last Friday) Robertsville, there will be a gathering to exchange stories and information. The gathering will begin with a smudging ceremony. Bandanas and face masks are not appropriate. Do not wear them. We will meet below the 200 meter mark, and then proceed to the gate. Please join us. 2) NON-VIOLENCE
TRAINING, OSO HALL, SHARBOT LAKE, Kwey all This being said, training in non-violence is essential when engaging in any form of resistance. In the early part of the summer, we had asked if anyone was interested in this form of training. The response had, at the time, been very favourable. As has happened in the past, the lead-time is rather short. I apologize. It seems that it sometimes is inevitable. The hall is almost on the corner of Elizabeth and Garrett Street in Sharbot Lake. There is a church on the corner and a cenotaph. The hall is tucked in behind. Please phone anyone you know who is not computered. They may want to join us. Also consider passing this message along to anyone you trust would be understanding of this initiative and who would want to participate. We haven't asked for kitchen privileges. Coffee and tea will be provided. Please bring your own cold drinks and snacks to share. Mireille 3a) August 28th, MNDM MINING ACT
CONSULTATIONS,KINGSTON, ON 3b) Aug 30 & 31st - AAFN POW WOW, Plevna, ON, 5th Anniversary Manomin (wild Rice) Victory Celebration
and Pow Wow 3c) SEPTEMBER 1, WQ-CAMU FUNDRAISER - WHITEWATER RAFTING Esprit Rafting, one of the world's top outfitters, is helping the West Quebec Coalition Against Mining Uranium (WQ-CAMU) by hosting a fundraising event. Come join us for an exciting day of whitewater rafting on the beautiful Ottawa River and support a good cause. Departure from Grand-Calumet Island, west Quebec, near
Fort-Coulonge. 4)
Articles: NORTHUMBERLAND - Private testing of treated effluent from
Cameco's Welcome Waste Management Facility (WWMF) agrees with the testing
results the company provides to the municipality and federal nuclear authorities,
says a Cameco spokesman. 4b) PORT
HOPE RESIDENTS DEMAND CAMECO CORPORATION STOP DUMPING URANIUM INTO LAKE The residents wrote Michael Binder, Ph.D, President and
CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission after recetory tests of
water it found pouring out of a broken pipe on a public beach where Brand
Creek empties into Lake Ontario. 4c) NOW YOU SEE
IT, NOW YOU DON'T: UPDATE ON URANIUM IN NS In Nova Scotia, the issue of uranium exploitation has
become entangled with the Voluntary Planning Natural Resources public
sessions held throughout the province from May-June. Sessions are designed
to elicit public comment on four major areas: forestry, minerals, parks,
biodiversity. At this stage of "citizen engagement", they are
supposed to be arm's length from DNR. Mining industry reps were present at all the meetings. Those who spoke in favour of uranium exploitation concentrated on the value of exploration which they presented as a public service to Nova Scotians. These private companies claim they're doing us a favour by mapping where uranium occurs so then we won't be tempted to build schools or houses there. They present themselves as not interested in mining, the logical conclusion of exploration. At the New Minas and Windsor meetings, each attended by over a 150 people, there was overwhelming opposition to uranium exploitation. At the other sessions, this opposition was not so clear as many people concentrated on opposing clearcut/spraying in the forests or spoke to other areas for fear parks and biodiversity would fall between the cracks. Who knows what the scorekeepers were keeping track of? The Minister of Natural Resources, David Morse, has said he's waiting to hear from Nova Scotians on this issue and that they should express their opinions through these sessions. He's made no secret of his own yearning to lift the moratorium which has revealed itself to be as leaky as a tailings dam. It appears exploration has temporarily slowed as Capella/Trippple Uranium have finally reported publicly that, on at least one site,they've run into samples over the 100 ppm uranium limit set by the moratorium. The Voluntary Planning sessions end in mid-June. However, written briefs may be submitted to them until July 31st. It's important that people take the time to write, even if it's only a paragraph or two. The process is more like a sampling of public opinion, camouflaged as public consultation, to allow the government time to decide if they want to pay the political price for lifting the lid (ie., moratorium) on this issue. Meanwhile, the Chester Municipal Council has called for the moratorium to be made law. The West Hants Council said, at the Windsor session, that they would follow suit. A new working group for Kings County has formed in Wolfville and more citizens are getting involved as they realize what's at stake for this small province. Gordon Edwards, one of Canada's foremost nuclear critics, will speak on Uranium: the Political and Health Fallout, in Wolfville and Halifax. He'll give us all lots to think about during a very busy summer. 4d) URANIUM THREAT
- NEW BRUNSWICKERS SAY OUR PROVINCE WILL NOT BE THE NEXT RABBIT LAKE! Buoyed by high uranium prices and courted by international uranium mining companies, the New Brunswick Government is trying to take this province down a path to an industry that leaves behind a radioactive cocktail for the citizens to deal with. The waste products from uranium mining contain over a dozen radioactive, toxic materials that would threaten the Province's water sources, food chain and citizens' health for thousands of years. The Southeast Chapter of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick (CCNB Southeast) and other groups around the Province are working hard to get the facts on the table. The Government is studying the potential impacts of tidal and wind energies and engaging the public in consultations throughout the Province. While these true "clean" energy sources are being carefully evaluated before proceeding, many wonder why the public has never been consulted on uranium mining nor has the Government conducted any studies on the impact. The Provincial Government is also promoting a second nuclear reactor - part of its plan to be an "energy hub", again with no consultations with its citizens. Both the uranium and nuclear power will be exported, but not the waste that's left behind - that's a gift for the people of New Brunswick to handle. CCNB Southeast has so far reached over 1,800 people, through nine public information sessions, to tell them about uranium mining and its effects on the environment, health and food chain. People at these presentations are shocked and worried about uranium mining and very angry that their voices are not being heard by the Provincial Government. We will continue with these presentations to make sure that as many people as possible understand the situation and how the total cost to the Province will far outweigh the short term economic gains. The Provincial Government's recently held its public information sessions, in Fredericton on June 4th and in Moncton on the 5th. They heard loud and clear from capacity crowds totalling close to 1,000 people, that a uranium mine is not welcome in New Brunswick. Nothing from the panel, including Health Canada's representative telling us that we are exposed to uranium all the time anyway so it's nothing to worry about to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission representative touting all the safety features in place to protect everybody. The panel also included a representative from the provincial Departments of Environment and Natural Resources. The Minister of Natural Resources was in attendance in Fredericton, but did not address the crowd despite many requests. With the devastating effects from uranium mining waste on the front end of the nuclear chain, and the even greater threat from the nuclear waste at the end of the chain, it is inconceivable that the New Brunswick government would choose this direction. The people of New Brunswick are speaking out in greater and greater numbers against uranium mining - the Provincial Government is unwise not to listen. 5) "LIVING
ON EARTH AS IF WE WANT TO STAY" TOUR HEADS EAST Are they coming to a town near you? Having had a break of 5 weeks, starting next week, they
will be taking the Four of their events are at Rotary Clubs and they are
pleased to be taking If you can come out to meet them along the way, please
do. They will be Details at www.SustainWellBeing.net
under 'tour,' then under 'where we are 6) DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING THE NUCLEAR CYCLE, COURTESY OF DR. GORDON EDWARDS http://www.ccnr.org/nukechain.html 7) LETTER TO THE EDITOR, written and forwarded to the Kingston Whig by Donna Dillman RE: Letter to the Editor from Steven Manders of Kingston Donna Dillman 8) LETTER TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE STEVEN HARPER, Dear Right Honourable Steven Harper, A Moratorium on the mining for Uranium is required immediately to reduce long-lasting health problems, domestically and abroad within the Canadian general populous, and within soldiers whom serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. Many terrible illnesses are undeniably connected within effluent toxins that leave these sites. These sites are in turn, inextricably linked to Human cancer clusters, and disease clusters in human beings and to surrounding environment. Today's modern military does rely on Uranium products
and as well do the Please do the right thing for my children and their children. Otimistically yours, carmi Gallant |