[Indigsol] Fwd: Powow in Plevna, Lovelace in Toronto (Uranium News - August 12, 2008)

[Angela Schleihauf]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Uranium News <uraniumnews at mail.ccamu.ca>
Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2008 at 10:53 AM
Subject: Uranium News - August 12, 2008
To: greenlynndaniluk at yahoo.ca



1) NEW APPROVED OPP MELT MESSAGING RE ROBERTSVILLE
*2) AAFN POW WOW, Plevna, ON, Aug 30 & 31st*
3) WEST QUEBEC CAMU FUNDRAISER – Whitewater Rafting on the Ottawa
4) CCAMU'S RESPONSE TO MNDM CONSULTATIONS ON MINING ACT
5) ACT CHANGING 'TOO QUICKLY' – The Daily Press
6) MINING ACT REFORM - CONSULTATION VENUES:
7) URANIUM HALLELUJAH, Music by Leonard Cohen, Lyrics by Jeff Woods
8) REMINDERS:
*8 a) BOB LOVELACE AT HART HALL, IN TORONTO ON AUG 13TH*
8 b) POWER DOWN TO REMEMBER THE BLACKOUT, AUG 14TH
9) ARTICLES:
9 a) BEDFORD MINING ALERT AND THE ONTARIO MINING ACT, Jeff Green
9 b) AECL, SNC ASK FOR BILLIONS FOR NUKE PLAN, Globe and Mail
9 c) POWER PLANT KEPT IN THE DARK, Globe and Mail;
9 d) NUCLEAR AGENCY THINKS ATOMIC RENAISSANCE BAD IDEA;
9 e) WE LIE/BLUSTER ABOUT OUR NUKES -  WAG OUR FINGERS AT IRAN;
9 f) ONTARIO NUCLEAR PLANT WELD FAILURE "UNPRECEDENTED";
9 g) NUKE LAB SECRETLY MEASURING GLOBAL RADIATION LEVELS;
9 h) 'IT FEELS LIKE A SCI-FI FILM' - ACCIDENTS TARNISH NUCLEAR DREAM;
9 i) WHY MARIN COUNTY HAS HIGHEST BREAST CANCER RATE IN THE U.S.
9 j) ON CANCER'S TRAIL
________________________________________________________________
1) NEW APPROVED OPP MELT MESSAGING RE ROBERTSVILLE

Received by Uranium News: Thursday, August 7, 2008, 2:44 PM

Attached is the new approved messaging as of,  07 Aug. 2008, that is being
relayed by the OPP's Melt unit re the Robertsville Mine situation.

"We remind you that our mission remains the same and the court injunction
including the 200 meter zone and the John/Jane Doe warrants are still in
effect. We will measure our response to each report of person or persons
attending the Robertsville Mine Site on its own merit and determine the
appropriate action. The most recent event allegedly includes a person
wearing a disguise and arguing with Frontenac Ventures employees. We
encourage you to consider your motive for attending - is it peaceful and
lawful?"

Respectfully,
Dale Cousins, OPP MELT unit
__________

*2) AAFN POW WOW, Plevna, ON, Aug 30 & 31st*

5th Anniversary Manomin (wild Rice) Victory Celebration and Pow Wow
All Nations Welcome
details at www.aafna.ca or call 613-375-6590
_____________________________________

3) LABOUR DAY FUNDRAISER, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
WEST QUEBEC COALITION AGAINST MINING URANIUM

(Editors note – I'll be in attendance at this one and it promises to be a
fun day, DD)

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.

A fun-filled day of rafting on the Ottawa River with Esprit Rafting.

When you book we will receive the proceeds only if you tell them this is for
WQ-CAMU.

Departure from Grand-Calumet Island, west Quebec, near Fort-Coulonge.
Cost: $100 rafting and lunch. ALL PROCEEDS will go to WQ-CAMU.
Registration: 1-800-596-7238 or www.espritrafting.com

Overnight accommodations available if needed at very reasonable cost (hostel
or camping).  Enquire with Esprit Rafting.

For up to date, factual information on uranium mining in West Quebec,
see: http://no-uranium.blogspot.com/
______________________

4) THE COMMUNITY COALITION AGAINST MINING URANIUM'S (CCAMU'S) RESPONSE TO
THE MNDM PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS ON MINING ACT REFORM.

While CCAMU has reservations, due to the flawed process, we welcome the
Ontario Government's recently announced review of the Ontario Mining Act.
CCAMU is pleased that the discussion includes issues related to privately
owned land and First Nations' consultation.

On August 5, 2008, the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines announced
that public consultations will be held in five locations beginning on August
11th in Timmins (August 11); followed by consultations in: Sudbury (August
13); Thunder Bay (August 18); Kingston (August 28) and Toronto (Sept.8).

It is noted that the related discussion paper will be posted on the MNDM and
Environmental Bill of Rights websites on August 11 and is not available to
stakeholders prior to that date.

Five problems have been identified:
1)     The timing of the consultation is inadequate.
2)     The scope of the consultation has not been released.
3)     Stakeholders have not been given clear directions on how to
participate
4)     The scope does not include discussion on uranium.
5)     Meeting locations are limited with no consideration given to
preparation and travel time.

More precisely:
1) The first public meeting is scheduled for the same day that the
discussion paper is expected to be released. The time given participants to
prepare is, therefore, inadequate.
·       More lead-time is required for adequate preparation.

2) The scope of the consultation has not been released. The consultation
announcement only hinted at an outline for just two of the five discussion
topics.
·        For proper preparation by stakeholders in the process, more
information is needed.

3) Stakeholders have not been given clear directions on how to participate
in the process.
As well, it is unclear who will be considered stakeholders in the
discussions.
A letter sent to Premier McGuinty on June 24, requesting that CCAMU and
other groups be considered stakeholders has gone unanswered.
·       Stakeholders should be given appropriate information about notifying
the MNDM of their intention to participate.
·       Stakeholders should receive a prompt response to inquiries directed
to the Ministry.

4) The scope does not include discussion on uranium.
Twenty-three municipalities, many thousands of Ontarians and dozens of
organizations have petitioned the government concerning exploration and
mining of uranium. Refusing to include issues related to uranium is an
unacceptable decision.
Uranium exploration and mining should have special recognition in the Mining
Act and in the regulations.  Unlike other minerals, uranium is dangerous due
to its radioactive nature, and is recognized as such by Ontario and
Canada–it is unique in that it is the only mineral that is regulated
federally at the mining stage.

·       Uranium exploration and mining should be on the table as part of the
consultation process.
·       Legislation should be enacted that relates specifically to uranium
exploration. Environmental impact assessments and restrictions in populated
areas and watersheds should be part of any such legislation.
·       Permitting, backed by clear regulations and expectations for
approval by related ministries, should be required for exploration -
including during the initial drilling phase. Monitoring of exploration
should be required.
·       The Ministry should consult with affected communities prior to
exploration for uranium.

5) Meeting locations are limited, with little or no time to arrange
schedules and travel.

·       Consultations should be held in additional impacted communities,
including Bancroft/Haliburton, with adequate notice to allow for maximum
public participation.

In summary, CCAMU would welcome a process that answers these concerns.
In the meantime, because of the flawed process, we question the validity and
value of the announced public consultations.

We remain committed to opposing exploration and mining of uranium and in
having our views recognized by government.
________________

5) ACT CHANGING 'TOO QUICKLY'

Mining industry representatives want more time for process

Posted By KEITH LACEY, THE DAILY PRESS

There were a lot of diverging opinions expressed, but one common theme
agreed to by virtually everyone in attendance Monday night was the process
to upgrade the province's Mining Act is taking place way too fast.

"We really need a lot more time ... our group was adamant about this," said
Mike Gordon, who works for the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
He acted as a spokesman following a roundtable discussion as Timmins hosted
the first of several Mining Act public consultations Monday at the Howard
Johnson Inn.
To read on:
http://www.timminspress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1152973

_____________

6) MINING ACT REFORM - CONSULTATION VENUES: - Note the Kingston venue:
Thursday, Aug 28. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Radisson Hotel  Kingston Harbourfront

Timmins
Monday, Aug. 11. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Howard Johnson Inn
1800 Riverside Drive
Goldrush Ballroom

Sudbury
Wednesday, Aug. 13. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel
50 Brady Street
Conference Lounge

Thunder Bay
Monday, Aug. 18. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Valhalla Inn
1 Valhalla Inn Road
Scandia Room

Kingston
Thursday, Aug 28. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Radisson Hotel Kingston Harbourfront
1 Johnson Street
Harbour Shadows Room

Toronto
Monday, September 8. 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Location TBD – please visit <
http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mndm/miningact/miningact_e.asp> for an update
_________________

(Editors Note – Jeff, accompanied by Terry Tufts and Jeremy Stiles,
performed his timely new song, Uranium Hallelujah, (words copied below) at
Blue Skies last weekend, in front of a large and appreciate audience.)

7) URANIUM HALLELUJAH, Music by Leonard Cohen, Lyrics by Jeff Woods

I heard there were some secret laws,
That take away what you thought was yours,
'cause you don't really read the fine print, do ya?
Well the house is ours, the car, the yacht,
But all that's under your land is not
And make a fuss, they'll incarcerate or sue ya.

 Chorus

I'd like to know what you leaders think,
What food you'll eat,
What water you'll drink,
When all this crap comes down the river to ya.
And then you'll realize all your fears,
For some inconceivable number of years,
By then you'll glow so much we'll see right through ya.

 Chorus

 And just a common man I be,
But it don't take no genius to see,
That what you sow will usually come back to ya.
Don't give me sir, I beg you please,
Some unpronounceable disease,
Like Myelogenous Glioblastomic too-ma.

Chorus

So you've grown an extra cranium.
You think it was the uranium.
Your legs, your arms, your feet they all outgrew ya.
But maybe in a billion years,
A couple more eyes and a couple more ears,
You may find they're much more useful to ya.

Chorus

I'm thinking about Iraq today,
Depleted uranium, 'bombs away,'
We sent in some troops, and we subdued ya.
Some children wrapped in bandages,
And missing some appendages,
In Bagadad, in Tekrit, and in Fallujah.

 Chorus
_________________________________

8) REMINDERS:

*8 a) AN EVENING WITH BOB LOVELACE*, Hart House, Toronto
Wed. Aug. 13, 2008 - 7:00 p.m.
Hart House, Debates Room, 2nd floor
7 Hart House Circle, University of Toronto
Details in August 5th Uranium News
___________________________

8 b) POWER DOWN TO REMEMBER THE BLACKOUT
A Call to Action  - Thursday, August 14, 2008

Celebrate the 5th anniversary of the 2003 blackout by "Powering Down" for
the day.  You don't have to go without power, just aim to use at least 20%
less power than on a normal day.  Keep the essential stuff running, and turn
off the things you don't need.

For more detail see Aug 5th Unews, or contact:

Ontario Environment Network
oen at oen.ca          http://www.oen.ca
____________________

9) ARTICLES:
9 a) THE BEDFORD MINING ALERT AND THE ONTARIO MINING ACT
By Jeff Green, for the Frontenac News

The Bedford Mining Alert (BMA) started out, literally, as a voice from the
wilderness 9 years ago, founded by a group of landowners who were faced with
prospecting on their properties.

In some cases, these people had no idea that there was such as thing as
mining rights to properties in Ontario, and that they were among the small
percentage of landowners in the province (2%) who did not own theirs.

They also did not know that those 2% of properties are subject to staking
and as the result of the co-called "free entry system", staked properties
can be accessed and altered by mining exploration companies.

Nine years later, the Bedford Mining Alert is extremely well versed in the
140 year old Ontario Mining Act and its current applications, …

Full article at: http://www.newsweb.ca/2008/08-31_aug_7/fatal_fire.html
__________________________

9 b) AECL, SNC ASK FOR BILLIONS FOR NUKE PLAN

Backing from Ottawa is the only way companies say they can compete with
foreign rivals

by Shawn McCarthy, Globe and Mail, August 7, 2008

OTTAWA — Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. [SNC-T] are
asking the government for billions in financing for their bid to build two
nuclear reactors in Ontario, and the government has sent initial signals
that some backing will be available.

The companies, who say government support is the only way their bid can
compete with global players, are also asking Ottawa to help cover any
potential cost overruns, which critics say could  mount to further billions
of dollars.

For the full story see:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080807.wraecl06/BNStory/energy.
..

_____________________

9 c) POWER PLANT KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT MISSING REACTOR PART

The Globe And Mail, Saturday, July 26, 2008
Byline: Martin Mittelstaedt, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER

Staff working for Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. lost a metal part they
removed from a reactor at the
Bruce nuclear power station in April, and didn't tell anyone until an
employee from the station found it in June when it triggered the alarm on
his radiation monitor.

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080725.wnuclear26/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

__________________

9 d) EVEN THE GOVERNMENT'S NUCLEAR AGENCY THINKS AN ATOMIC RENAISSANCE IS A
BAD IDEA
By Harvey Wasserman, CounterPunch
Posted on July 28, 2008
A devastating blow to the much-hyped revival of atomic power has been
delivered by an unlikely source -- the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The
NRC says the "standardized" designs on which the entire premise of returning
nuclear power to center stage is based have massive holes in them, and may
not be ready for approval for years to come.

Delivered by one of America's most notoriously docile agencies, the NRC's
warning essentially says: that all cost estimates for new nuclear reactors
-- and all licensing and construction schedules -- are completely up for
grabs, and have no reliable basis in fact. Thus any comparisons between
future atomic reactors and renewable technologies are moot at best. And any
"hard number" basis for independent financing for future nukes may not be
available for years to come, if ever.

To read more, please click on: http://www.alternet.org/story/92937/

Harvey Wasserman, a co-founder of Musicians United for Safe Energy, edits
the nukefree.org web site. He is the author of SOLARTOPIA! Our Green-Powered
Earth, A.D. 2030, is at www.solartopia.org.
___________________

9 e) WE LIE AND BLUSTER ABOUT OUR NUKES - AND THEN WAG OUR FINGERS AT IRAN

By failing to disarm and breaking the rules when it suits, nuclear states
are driving proliferation as much as Ahmadinejad

Georges Monbiot, The Guardian, July 29. 2008
An excerpt:

…..The permanent members of the UN security council draw a distinction
between their "responsible" ownership of nuclear weapons and that of the
aspirant powers. But over the past six years, the UK, US, France and Russia
have all announced that they are prepared to use their nukes pre-emptively
against a presumed threat, even from states that do not possess nuclear
weapons. In some ways the current nuclear stand-off is more dangerous than
the tetchy detente of the cold war.

The danger has been heightened by the US government's current offensive.
Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, is demanding that other countries
accept her plans to destroy the last remaining incentive for states to abide
by the NPT. The treaty grants countries which conform to it materials for
nuclear power on favourable terms. It's a flawed incentive - as the spread
of civil nuclear programmes makes the proliferation of military material
more likely - but an incentive nonetheless. Now Rice insists that India
should have special access to US nuclear materials despite the fact that it
has not signed the NPT and has illegally developed nuclear weapons…

www.monbiot.com

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/29/nuclear.defence/print
_______________________

9 f) ONTARIO NUCLEAR PLANT WELD FAILURE "UNPRECEDENTED," DOCUMENTS SHOW

Ken Meaney and Jack Branswell ,  Canwest News Service
Published: Sunday, July 27, 2008

OTTAWA -- When the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission was struggling last
December with a shortage of medical isotopes sparked by the Chalk River
reactor shutdown, it was also dealing with another Ontario nuclear plant
where there had been an "unprecedented" weld failure on one fuel bundle.

In all, 10 defective welds were found on the fuel bundle, a collection of
processed uranium rods resembling the barrel of a Gatling gun about a
half-metre long.

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=5b689d87-3396-4dc7-ba50-5276d4d7005c
____________________

9 g) LIVERMORE NUKE LAB SECRETLY MEASURING GLOBAL RADIATION LEVELS

Based on 550 epidemiological studies of exposed populations, an independent
low-level ionizing radiation report for the European Parliament, the
European Committee on Radiation Risk (ECRR) report, has stated that chronic
exposure to low-level ionizing radiation is:
"…up to 1000 times more biologically damaging than the International
Committee on Radiation Protection (ICRP) standards and risk model
predict."[16]


The ICRP standards and risk model are based on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Atomic Bomb studies, which were deceptively conducted by the U.S.
Government, in order to protect the future development of a nuclear weapons
program.


Even worse than the fission products, the public health impact from global
pollution by depleted uranium, was not officially measured or reported from
bomb testing, but someone must have been monitoring it. All atomic and
hydrogen bombs have large amounts (thousands of pounds) of depleted uranium
packed as "tamping" around the small plutonium core weighing less than 20
lbs.[17] The major contribution made by depleted uranium to global
radioactive pollution from atmospheric testing was very rarely mentioned or
reported.

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.namastepublishing.co.uk/Populations%20Exposed%20to%20Enviromental%20Uranium.htm
______________________

9 h) 'IT FEELS LIKE A SCI-FI FILM' - ACCIDENTS TARNISH NUCLEAR DREAM
By Angelique Chrisafis

The Guardian  July 26 2008

Sylvie Eymard's Provence farmhouse kitchen should be the picture of French
rural calm. But the stockpiles of bottled water, disinfectant rinse and
disposable paper plates hint at something strange.

For the past two weeks, Eymard, 41, and her children, 13 and seven, have had
a phobia of taps. To wash up, they go out to the yard and fill a bowl from a
specially delivered plastic tank of purified water on a fork-lift tractor.
They carry the water up to the bathroom to wash. Even the dog drinks bottled
water, and it is left out for the birds.

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jul/25/nuclear.industry.france
________________

9 i) WHY MARIN COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST BREAST CANCER RATE IN THE UNITED
STATES

By Leuren Moret

...The chance discovery of an abstract in the Journal of Environmental
Radioactivity, "Radiocesium in North San Francisco Bay and Baja California
coastal surface waters," 2 provided me with an answer to a puzzling question
about breast cancer. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent by the
University of California to identify the cause of what may be the highest
breast cancer rates 3 in the United States in Marin County, California, just
north of San Francisco....

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.namastepublishing.co.uk/Populations%20Exposed%20to%20Enviromental%20Uranium.htm
____________________

9 j) ON CANCER'S TRAIL

Feature story - From the May 26, 2008 issue of High Country News
by Florence Williams

The women in Stefanie Raymond-Whish's family have a history of breast
cancer. Now the young Navajo biologist is asking why.

 FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA

...Both Sandoval and her daughter have made breast cancer and its impact on
Navajos the focus of their lives. Sandoval became an activist and filmmaker,
working out of her papaya-colored home in Farmington, N.M. Raymond-Whish has
taken her mission a step further: She works as a molecular biologist at the
University of Northern Arizona, searching for breast cancer's root causes.
"Is there any difference in how breast cancer develops in Native Americans
and non-Native Americans?" she asks. One possible - and provocative - answer
is emerging from her lab at the university: uranium....

To read this article in its entirety, please click on:
http://www.hcn.org/issues/371/17708
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