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MARCH 12th, 2008 |
IN THIS ISSUE: |
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1)
KINGSTON EVENT: RALLY OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE CHARGED
WHERE: Kingston
Court House WHY: To speak out against the contempt of court charges against Ardoch Algonquin Elder Bob Lovelace, Shabot Obaajiwan Chief Doreen Davis, Shabot Obaajiwan War Chief Earl Badour, local settler Frank Morrison and John Hudson and David Milne of the Christian Peacemaker Team. BRING: Signs, drums, friends and your voice! We want a huge crowd to yell “Shame” while we surround the courthouse! Please consider coming out before going to work or school. Now is the time to have our voices heard! 2) CITIZENS’ INQUIRY INTO THE IMPACTS OF THE URANIUM CYCLE Want to send a message to our government about uranium? How do you feel about the renewed push for nuclear power? Two decades ago, nuclear power was abandoned because of its enormous expense and demonstrable dangers. Today, sophisticated ads tell us that it is a safe, green and affordable solution to climate change. What is the truth? The Citizens' Inquiry into the Impacts of the Uranium Cycle http://www.uraniumcitizensinquiry.com is an opportunity to document what we are sensing about this issue. This input will be assembled into an Internet-accessible reference and written report, which could be used to defend the land and life. An open discussion about uranium-based technology is critically needed before huge amounts of money are irretrievably committed to technology that could haunt the next thousand generations. What do you think, know and feel about things nuclear? The Inquiry is looking for input on any aspect, from land claims and mineral rights to uranium prospecting, mining, processing and transportation and on to power generation, waste disposal, nuclear weapons and medical uses? Nuclear issues are arising around the globe. Wherever you live, your input is important to the success of the Inquiry. Submissions need not be long. Simple statements or detailed documents all help. Please consider making a submission by mail or email. info@uraniumcitizensinquiry.com If you are in or near Eastern Ontario, consider presenting at one of the four Public Forums that will focus the effort in April. (Sharbot Lake, April 1; Kingston, April 8; Peterborough, April 15; and Ottawa, April 22.) Registration is required to present at the Forums. You can register at: http://www.uraniumcitizensinquiry.com/registration.htm If you are from one of the many other areas on Earth being challenged by new developments, you might be interested in staging a sister inquiry. Materials to start you off are available on request. The history of this initiative, participating organizations and other details are available at www.uraniumcitizensinquiry.com
3) ARDOCH ALGONQUIN MEETING RESCHEDULED DUE TO SNOWSTORM The Ardoch Algonquin meeting that was to be held on March 8th has been rescheduled to Saturday March 15th. It will be held at Maberly Hall at 3pm. The community is invited to meet with the Ardochs for a strategy meeting. 4) URANIUM KINGSTON EVENT: JIM HARDING When: March 30, 6-9pm Where: Queen St. United Church, Kingston, Ontario Jim Harding, is the author of “Canada’s Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System.” Jim will be doing a presentation and there will also be a discussion on the uranium industry. Other guest speakers include: Marilyn Crawford of CCAMU, Mireille LaPointe of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Frank Morrison of CCAMU. Canada’s Deadly Secret chronicles the struggle over Saskatchewan’s uranium mining, the front end of the global nuclear system. It digs into impacts on Aboriginal rights, environmental health and the effect of free trade, tracing Saskatchewan’s pivotal role in nuclear proliferation and the spread of contamination and cancer. Harding shows that nuclear energy cannot address global warming, nor is there a “peaceful atom.” The book goes inside biased public inquiries; it exposes PR campaigns of half-truths and untruths and the penetration of nuclear propaganda into our schools. Canada’s Deadly Secret also highlights successes in holding back nuclear expansion. It presents an alternative, ecological vision for a sustainable future that not only takes up the invitation coming from renewable energies, it also links energy, environment, health, peace and sovereignty. Jim Harding is a retired professor of justice studies at the University of Regina. He is a founding member of the Regina Group for a Non- Nuclear Society and was director of research for Prairie Justice Research at the University of Regina, where he headed up the Uranium Inquiries Project. Jim also acted as consultant to the NFB award-winning film Uranium. 5) ACTION ALERT: ONTARIO’S ENERGY MINISTER GERRY PHILLIPS ANNOUNCES 72% NUCLEAR POWER MONOPOLY Ontario's Energy Minister Gerry Phillips announced today that the Government of Ontario has decided to give nuclear power companies a monopoly to supply up to 72% of Ontario's electricity demand. Nuclear power is the highest-cost, least reliable and least energy efficient electricity supply source. This decision essentially does an end run around the government's promise to consider all supply sources equally in an integrated plan. Instead of reserving up to 72% of Ontario's electricity market for nuclear power, the Government of Ontario should allow all energy options to compete fairly to meet our base-load electricity needs. It doesn't make sense to build new nuclear power plants if we can meet our electricity needs at a lower cost through energy conservation and demand management; wind power; biomass power from our farms; natural gas-fired combined heat and power plants located in our apartment buildings, recreation centres, hospitals, shopping malls and factories; or water power imports from Quebec, Labrador or Manitoba. Please contact
Energy Minister Phillips (Phone: 416-327-6758; Fax: Thank you, Jack Gibbons 6) STOP URANIUM MINING & EXPLORATION IN NOVA SCOTIA & NEW BRUNSWICK As the price of uranium increases, so does the pressure to open up areas to uranium exploration. The New Brunswick and Nova Scotia governments are considering permitting uranium mining. In Nova Scotia, a moratorium on uranium mining and exploration has existed for over two decades. However, public statements by the David Morse, NS Minister of Natural Resources indicates that the government is considering lifting the ban: "The moratorium was put in on the whim of the government and it can be taken out on a whim. It comes down to what the people of Nova Scotia want." (The Hants Journal, January 29th, 2008) The so-called "whim" was actually a commission headed up by Judge Robert McCleave, who held 44 public meetings and reviewed everything that was known about the effects of uranium mining on people and the environment. Unfortunately, the moratorium is not legislated, which means that the moratorium may be lifted by an order of Cabinet, with no public debate. In New Brunswick, no such ban exists, leaving people and the environment vulnerable. Uranium mining represents a real threat to human health, water resources, and wildlife. Please tell the Nova Scotia government to maintain the moratorium on uranium exploration and mining and to make the ban law. Ask the New Brunswick government to follow Nova Scotia's lead!
7) ACTION ALERT: CONTACT MINISTER FOR NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AND MINES One of our
CCAMU members finally received a response from Michael Gravelle. Please
consider contacting him with your concerns regarding uranium mining in
Ontario. 8) MESSAGE FROM MICHAEL PATENAUDE RE: CBC RADIO LINKS I thought you'd all be interested to know that CBC Radio's Ontario Today did end up posting the link to Health Canada's site based on Carla's e-mail to Ed Lawrence read out on the gardening phone in on February 25/08. Here is
a link to Ontario Today and its posting: Here is
a link to the two phone is shows with Ed Lawrence on the topic of uranium
mining: http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/story_archive.html Also on the same page as the Gardening Phone-ins, on Feb. 15 there is an item called Uranium Protest - listen to the real audio file of the coverage of the sentencing of Robert Lovelace and all. -Michael
Patenaude of West Quebec CCAMU
9) HELP STOP URANIUM MINING IN NORTHERN COLORADO http://www.nunnglow.com/stop-the-mining/help-us-stop-uranium-mining-in-northern-colorado.html 10) STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FROM BAY OF QUINTE CONFERENCE Statement from Bay of Quinte Conference in Response to Failed Mediation Talks and the Resulting Court Cases and Rulings in relation to the Robertsville Mining situation March 6th 2008 The Bay of Quinte Conference of the United Church of Canada is deeply disappointed with the termination of the mediation talks between a mining prospecting company and local First Nations peoples, and appalled by the sentencing of retired Chief Robert Lovelace and Chief Paula Sherman of the Ardoch Algonquians. The harsh sentences have rightly led to international criticism, and should be an embarrassment to our Ontario Government. We strongly support requests from many Municipalities including the Cities of Kingston, Carleton Place, Perth and Ottawa for an immediate moratorium on uranium mineral prospecting, exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa River watershed until such time as settlement plans for native land claims exist and all environmental and health issues resolved. Furthermore, we strongly request the Ontario Government to enter into consultation with the Ardoch Algonquins and the Shabot Obaadjiwan Algonquins in regard to the use of land that has never been ceded and remains disputed land at this time. We would remind the government that this consultation is required by law and has never taken place. At this time we would also like to be on record as supporting the Shabot Obaadjiwan Algonquins, Ardoch Algonquins, and non-native “settlers” who have been charged with contempt of court by being present over this past year at the disputed mining site. We would note that the settlers charged are members of The United Church, and were there either as Christian Peacemakers or simply as settlers with a just commitment to First Nations land rights and to protecting their own land for future generations. We repeat our call upon the McGuinty Government to enter into immediate consultation with the Algonquins over the uranium mining issue at the Robertsville site as well as their outstanding land claim. Approved by the Executive of the Bay of Quinte Conference of the United Church of Canada, March 6th, 2008, at Kingston Ontario 11) MESSAGE FOR (March 8th) PETERBOROUGH RALLY FROM HELEN FORSEY Greetings to all of you who have braved this winter weather to express your outrage and show your opposition to uranium development on the Algonquin lands to the east of you. Though I can’t be with you in person today, I want to reaffirm how important that solidarity is in this ongoing struggle for environmental and social justice. We have all been moved by the courage of Bob Lovelace and the other leaders of the Ardoch and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations who continue to stand firm on behalf of all of us against the forces of greed and exploitation. The draconian punishments and conditions being imposed on these brave men and women are testimony to just how important this struggle is. The mining industry and its shareholders and its stockbrokers and its government allies - even with all the power they wield - have been kept at bay at Robertsville since last June by the stubborn nonviolent resistance of the Algonquins and their neighbours. The Algonquins’ commitment to non-violent resistance in defence of Mother Earth is part of a long and noble tradition. And it is especially appropriate that we salute that tradition today - International Women’s Day. It should be no surprise that two of the First Nation leaders whose bravery we celebrate today are women: Dr Paula Sherman, Co-Chief of the Ardoch Algonquins, and Chief Doreen Davis of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation. Some of us have had the honour over these past months of sitting around the fire with those women, swapping stories long into the night. We have learned much about their people’s respect for the Earth and for all of creation - values at the core of Algonquin culture, values which must once again come to stand at the core of our own. That is what is really at stake in this fight. For those values of respect for the living land mean nothing to those who want to drill holes into that land and batter the life out of it. It’s not just the uranium and the money those poor empty people want, it’s the power. That’s why they are so desperate, so brutal: - they see their power threatened by a force they cannot control. We are all part of that force - Algonquins, settlers, people in Sharbot Lake and Ardoch and Peterborough and Ottawa and wherever. It is a growing force, fuelled by outrage at injustice and love for Mother Earth. We are pushing back, saying "No" to the mining companies, to the investors, and to the governments that back them up. We have strengths they don’t possess, and who knows what the future holds. In the words of Holly Near, "We are gentle angry people," and together we will fight on. Megwetch, 12) ARTICLE: POOR INDUSTRY, CAN’T EVEN PAY FOR ITS OWN EXPLORATION! Northern Ontario business MARCH 7, 2008 Provincial government digs up dollars for Discover Abitibi A Timmins-based initiative designed to spark mineral exploration in the region has received a $1 million helping hand from the provincial government. The Discover Abitibi Initative, which conducts geoscience studies to promote interest in the Timmins, Kirkland Lake and Cochrane areas, will receive the money through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC). The initiative has already helped to attract $30 million worth of investment, while the new funding will be used to further nine additional geoscience projects. Northwatch 13) ARTICLE: WHY BOB LOVELACE IS IN JAIL Why Bob Lovelace is in jail; A message is being sent to mining companies: Ontario is open for business I know Bob Lovelace as a soft-spoken and self-reliant neighbour, devoted father and dedicated Queen's University teacher admired by his students and colleagues. He's the kind of guy who constructs a log house in the woods north of Kingston with his own skill and sweat; builds a box planter at the local swimming spot and keeps it stocked with marigolds and petunias; and provides venison for a potluck supper. He's as innately confrontational as a panda bear. 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