|
AUGUST 23rd , 2008 |
|
IN THIS ISSUE: 1)
CCAMU MEDIA RELEASE - Your presence requested during Kingston action,
August 28th, 6 p.m.
Your presence requested in Kingston on August 28th, to protest the exemption of uranium mining in the consultation process. Community
Coalition Against Mining Uranium, (CCAMU) The Ministry of Mines and Northern Development is holding hearings on the proposed reform to update Ontario's antiquated Mining Act and bring it into the 21st century. While we support restrictions on or replacement of the system of "free entry" of mining companies and prospectors on land claimed by aboriginals and private land owners, we question why uranium mines should be exempted. Uranium mines pollute watersheds. The proposed mine in North Frontenac County, near Sharbot Lake, would adversely affect the Mississippi and Ottawa rivers. Twenty two regional municipalities, including Ottawa, Kingston and Frontenac County have voted for a moratorium on Uranium mining in Eastern Ontario. How many does it take for our government to act on our concerns? It is hypocritical for the provincial government to claim federal jurisdiction on uranium whilst it has granted the permits to Frontenac Ventures for exploration and would collect revenues from these mines. In addition the Ministry of Natural Resources charged Frontenac Ventures with multiple breaches of provincial environmental regulations. How do you grant the permits, collect the revenues, and regulate the operations if you have no jurisdiction? We propose an information picket at the entrance to the hearings. Of course the event will be peaceful and non disruptive. Speakers, such as Bob Lovelace, and municipal representatives will voice their objections to the exemption of uranium mines. The 6 PM protest will include music and street theatre. 2a)
August 28th, MNDM MINING ACT CONSULTATIONS,KINGSTON, ON 2b) Aug 30 & 31st - AAFN POW WOW, Plevna, ON, 5th Anniversary
Manomin (wild Rice) Victory Celebration and Pow Wow 2c) 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. 3) A PROJECT FOR KAYDN GANGNIER (LYNN'S SON) (Note from
the editor: As you know, I've been publishing the UNews this month in
Lynn's absence. Lynn is in the middle of a family health crisis, with
her eldest son now back on dialysis and awaiting a second new kidney.
Kaydn, at 18, is an amazing young man, not surprising given that he has
his mom's genes. He has been a trouper throughout. Two of Kaydn's greatest passions are scuba diving and swimming but he is unable to do them right now so it would be good if he could focus on his other three passions: photography, music and the World of Warcraft. For the last couple of years he has wanted a Mac laptop so he can organize and enjoy all these things. We have set ourselves a goal of getting him a MacBook laptop computer within the next three weeks and want to raise $2,000. If, like us, you have a desire to help in some way, we would very much appreciate any help in achieving this goal. Kaydn will be spending countless hours lying in bed hooked up to a machine, and we feel this would be a great gift. Dialysis units are quite depressing and it is good to be able to escape into something that can take your mind off the pain. We are putting this request out to his immediate community, his family and friends in Canada and my family in Australia. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think may want to help. It will
be a surprise for him, so we are hoping to keep it behind the scenes as
much as possible. We will film him opening the gift and put it on the
Internet. Please send
your cheque, made out to "Lynn Daniluk" to:
WHEN THE
PROVINCIAL GOVERNment holds public meetings in Kingston later this month
over the controversial Mining Act, Bob Lovelace believes people have native
activists like himself to thank for it. 4b)
PROSPECTORS, LANDHOLDERS RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT ONTARIO MINING ACT MEETINGS 4c)
GRAVELLE SAYS WEIGHING ALL SIDES IMPORTANT Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle fears that changes to the Mining Act could create uncertainties in the mining sector, and he wants to avoid that. Mining act consultations began this week in Timmins with a public meeting in Thunder Bay scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. at the Valhalla Inn. Gravelle said Friday the changes have to accommodate both the mining sector and First Nation communities. To read
the complete article, please click on: 5)
JOHN KITTLE, MISSISSIPPI WATERSHED LANDOWNERS Hello . my name is John Kittle. I would like to thank the SWP Committee for the opportunity to speak to you today. [Bio Summary: I spent 25 years in high-tech in Ottawa. For the last 12 years, I ran my own professional services company. I have degrees in physics and computer science, and early on, when I thought I might become a physicist, I spent 2 years in a research lab studying the radioactive properties of uranium.] I represent a group of landowners in the Mississippi watershed who would be directly affected by contamination of groundwater from uranium exploitation in Frontenac County. Off the top, I would like to correct a misconception . we understand that MNDM has been told that the area in Frontenac County that has been claimed for uranium exploration is unpopulated. For the record, this is incorrect. In fact, there are hundreds of residents living close to the area being explored. We hereby request that the Ministry update its records. The balance of my comments today will be related to the letter received by this Committee from MOE, MNDM and Health, dated 24 July 2008. The MOE letter states that elevated uranium contents observed in some wells are due to "naturally occurring uranium". How does the Ministry know this? Perhaps the Ministry is not aware that there are several hundred uncapped/ungrouted drill holes already in this area from unsuccessful exploration projects in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Since there was no baseline water tests conducted at the time, how does the Ministry know that uranium content in the water is not due to these previous exploration activities? How does the Ministry know that additional drilling will not cause additional groundwater contamination? Even MVC, who are the most familiar with the area, admit that they do not know the interconnection topology of groundwater aquifers in the area being drilled. We request a copy of the studies the Ministries have used to substantiate their findings. With reference to the MNDM response in Appendix A of the same letter, the Ministry states: "For typical uranium exploration projects which reach the diamond drilling stage, there is no significant risk to groundwater or surface water above that of drilling for any other mineral or a typical domestic water well." We note that new residential wells are subject to strict regulatory requirements and in some cases a pressure test is mandated to determine impact on nearby wells. We request MOE to explain why these regulatory requirements are waived for over 100 exploratory drill holes in a populated area in the vicinity of scores of existing wells. We note that Ontario has had a holiday on environmental assessments at the exploration stage since 1996. So, exploration companies are basically self-regulated in Ontario. We suggest, given that uranium and its daughter products are some of the deadliest contaminants on earth, and given the poor environmental track record of many mining companies, this policy puts our water at significant risk. We request an explanation of why the Province does not regulate or monitor mining exploration companies. I think
we can all agree that an open-pit uranium mine in a populated area of
the Mississippi watershed is out of the question. So, let's narrow our
view and look at the specific risks from uranium exploration currently
going on. Our research has found documented evidence of water contamination
risks, mostly from other jurisdictions that have much more experience
and stronger environmental regulatory controls compared to Ontario. Closer to home, Mr. Doug Nuttall, Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Aug 2007, stated: "the aquifers in the target exploration area of the Mississippi watershed have never been properly mapped and that a detailed hydrogeotechnical study of the area is required to assess the impacts of exploratory drilling for uranium. " Perhaps the Ministries are unaware of these risks and studies. We would be pleased to provide copies of the references for their edification. So, why
are the authorities that are supposed to protect our water failing to
do so? Why do they not learn from the lessons from other jurisdictions
that have much more experience and stronger regulatory controls over uranium
exploitation? Why is Ontario not following the lead of Nova Scotia, BC,
New Brunswick and many US states in establishing moratoriums on uranium
exploitation, or at least strengthening its environmental regulatory oversight
during the uranium mining exploration stage? 6)
QUOTE FROM BUCKMINSTER FULLER
7)
THE NUCLEAR ILLUSION Lovins
and Sheikh note that "nuclear power plants are unfinanceable in the
private capital market because of their excessive costs and financial
risks and the high "During the nuclear revival now allegedly underway, no new nuclear project on earth has been financed by private risk capital, chosen by an open decision process, nor bid into the world's innumerable power markets and auctions. No old nuclear plant has been resold at a value consistent with a market case for building a new one." To view
the pdf, click on: 8a)
PLEASE GOD CAN MY SON SURVIVE ACUTE MYALOID LEUKAEMIA? Today, I
learned that someone typed the phrase 'please God can my son survive Acute
Myaloid Leukaemia?' to reach a webpage I set up that discusses the medical
impacts of nuclear accidents and testing across the globe. To read
the complete article, click on: 8b)
ALL IS NOT ROSY IN THE LAND OF THE NUCLEAR SUN http://www.midasletter.com/news/08081401_Camecos-woes-underscore-uranium-problems.php Since the
end of the cold war, the United Nations has logged more than 800 incidents
in which radioactive material has gone missing, often from poorly guarded
sites. Who is taking it - and should we be worried? Julian Borger investigates. A little before dawn on a recent summer morning, a convoy of three large blue lorries, a handful of police cars and a bus rumbled along the dual carriageway heading north out of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. Even if it had not been so early, the motorcade would probably not have drawn much attention. The lorries were unmarked, the bus carrying a few sleepy policemen was old and scruffy, while the lumbering shipment was big and slow enough to explain the escort and its flashing blue lights. To read
the complete article, click on: 8d)
NUCLEAR WASTE CONTAINERS LIKELY TO FAIL, WARNS 'DEVASTATING' REPORT To read the complete article, click on: 9) NOTICE OF CAMECO'S (Port Hope) 2010 PROJECT - DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION SEPT. 8TH. If you wish to file an intervention please contact CNSC directly for your set of documents. See below or click on: www.nuclearsafety.gc.ca August 1, 2008 Ref. 2008-H-14 The Canadian
Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) will hold a one-day public hearing to The Commission
will also consider the Proposed Environmental Assessment Guidelines (EA
Guidelines). The proposal is being reviewed as a comprehensive study under
the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The public
hearing will be webcasted live on the Internet via the CNSC Web site.
Public The project
consists of decommissioning and demolishing approximately twenty old or Class 1B A draft version of the EA Guidelines has been previously issued for public comment between March 5 and April 11, 2008. The revised EA Guidelines, taking public comments into account and the Track Report will be made available after August 8, 2008 by contacting the Secretariat at the address below. Following the hearing, the Commission will report to the Minister of the Environment and make a recommendation on whether to continue with the environmental assessment as a comprehensive study, or to refer the project to a mediator or review panel. The public
is invited to comment on the proposed Track Report and the EA Guidelines.
Requests to intervene must be filed with the Secretary of the Commission
by September 8, 2008 at the address below. The request must include the
following information, as per the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Rules
of Procedure: 10) LETTER TO MONTREAL GAZETTE: FROM GORDON EDWARDS PH.D. Received
from Dr. Edwards,President, Canadian Coalition fro Nuclear Responsibility, This week's
decision by Hydro Quebec to spend two billion dollars to repair the badly
degraded nuclear power plant at Bécancour is a poor decision for
Quebec. It is a waste of A coalition of over 50 groups has written to Premier Charest asking that the plant be retired and the money invested in community-based energy conservation programs instead. These groups refuse to accept the Gentilly-2 decision as final. They demand that the Premier respect the BAPE's advice: that any decision on nuclear power in Quebec should be based on a wide-ranging form of public consultation. In 2006, the Bureau des audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) reported that levels of radioactive contamination in the drinking water of some communities near the Quebec reactor would be illegal if California standards were used. Canadian standards for radioactive drinking water are 467 times more permissive than California standards. The BAPE recommended that refurbishment not be allowed until Hydro-Quebec and the Quebec government have elaborated a policy (including funding) for dealing with the large volumes of highly radioactive waste produced by the refurbishment operation. This has not been done. If the two billion dollars needed to refurbish the geriatric Gentilly-2 reactor were invested in community-based projects of energy efficiency throughout Quebec, it would create a LOT more jobs and would save FAR more energy than that reactor will ever produce. 11:
MORE QUOTES: What lies
behind us and what lies ahead are tiny matters compared to what lies within
us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson "The
trouble is that once you see it, you can't unsee it, and once you've seen
it, keeping quiet and saying nothing becomes as political an act as speaking
out. There's no innocence. Either way you are accountable." Arundhati
Roy, writer and activist |