[Indigsol] New blood Gives life to uranium resistance

[Ramsey Hart]

>
>
> New blood Gives life to uranium  resistance
> By Julie Druker
> http://www.frontenacnews.ca/2009/09-10_mar_12/uranium_09-10.html
>
>
> A large crowd of new and old faces discuss uranium exploration at Maberly
> meeting
>
> After a hiatus of many months, local community groups and concerned
> citizens joined forces at the Maberly Hall on March 8 to discuss the ongoing
> issue of uranium exploration at the Robertsville mine site. The meeting was
> called by Sulyn Cedar, who felt a need to get together and discuss the
> issues and to find out where everyone now stands. Though related websites
> have managed to keep the issues up to date, a formal meeting has not
> happened for quite a while.
>
> Present at Sunday’s meeting were some who have been involved since the
> issue began, including Bob Lovelace, Mireille Lapointe, Donna Dillman,
> members of the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU) and many
> other concerned citizens.
>
> Dillman commented before the meeting, “From my perspective we’re hoping to
> get more people involved. A lot of people have put literally thousands of
> hours into this and it would be really great to get more people involved”.
>
> New to the meeting and of note was a large contingent of students from the
> Ottawa area. Bob Lovelace had spoken the week before to a group of Ottawa
> students, which no doubt resulted in this high turnout. Also of note were
> recent settlers to the area looking to explore the uranium issue.
>
> A few of the new faces included Ramsey Hart of Mining Watch Canada, Nancy
> Ducette ,who works for the Centre for Sustainable Watersheds on Big Rideau
> Lake, and Rev. Gary Jones, one of two newly appointed ministers of the
> Centary Pastoral Charge, which includes the United Church in Maberly.
>
> Throughout the close to 70 introductions, many of the long-term key players
> confirmed a growing public awareness around the Robertsville uranium issue.
>
> Bob Lovelace, recently back from a world conference in Toronto commented,
> “Two things struck me when I was there: First people know about this area
> and the issues and we’re on the front line of a really important struggle.
> And second, they believe we have accomplished a tremendous amount already.
> And that reminds me that this is true”.
>
> Mireille Lapointe, co-chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, confirmed
> the feelings of a growing awareness. She stated, “We are known all over the
> world right now for all of this work that each and every one of us have
> done. There is a ground swell that is building. It takes a long, long time
> for things to seep into the public consciousness, but it’s getting there”.
> She added, “Even though Frontenac Ventures has drilled some holes, it’s not
> over; we’re still here and they still have to meet us”.
>
> Linda Harvey, a retired family physician who lives in the area, has been
> researching the effects of radiation on human tissue. “This is not a
> backyard issue. The pathways that this contamination takes is through the
> biosphere, through every organism on the planet, every organic molecule in
> our bodies”.
>
> Following the introductions, facilitator Randy Weekes joked that he was
> ready to end the meeting and call it a victory due to the impressive turn
> out. Instead, he and co-facilitator Christine Perringer got down to business
> and outlined the plan of the meeting, which included raising questions,
> defining needs and generating ideas. A brief summary of what’s happened so
> far was given by Donna Dillman (For a history go to Uranium Mining in North
> Frontenac at www.frontenacnews.ca).
>
> Other issues raised included: power relationships between government and
> the aboriginal community, political support around the issue, the current
> mining act and the agreement that the Shabot group made with the government
> and Frontenac Ventures.
>
> Suggestions and new ideas were brainstormed and after time ran out it was
> agreed that another meeting should be held soon.
>
> Sulyn Cedar was thrilled with the turnout. “Retired professionals and
> students can be the backbone of a social movement. There are diverse skills
> and interests and a lot of intelligence. You saw a real commitment with the
> people here today to keep the uranium mine away”.
>
> When asked about his plans from here on in, Bob Lovelace answered, “The
> Ardoch Algonquin First Nation will continue to resist the (uranium)
> exploration and to petition mining and we will stick to our strategy of
> community education and research and direct action and continue to work with
> other groups and do what we can to stop it”.
>
> CCAMU’s website is www.ccamu.ca or www. uranium defence.ca
>
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