Local Religious Group "Justs Says No" to Uranium Mining

Dan River Baptist Organization Opposes Mining!!!!

(From http://www.registerbee.com/ 02/08/08)

Baptist Association opposes uranium mining

By The Gazette-Virginian
February 8, 2008

SOUTH BOSTON - Churches in the Dan River Baptist Association have united to voice their concerns about the possible effects uranium mining in neighboring Pittsylvania County will have on Halifax County and surrounding areas.
During its executive committee meeting Tuesday night, pastors and lay persons representing the 33 churches in the association voted to approve a resolution that opposes mining of the radioactive ore that could result in pollution of groundwater and the Banister River as well as do “irreparable damage to God’s gift of creation and the environment.”
Created by Association Christian Life Chairman Pastor Dr. J. Michael Parnell and Association WMU Director Wanda McEntire, the resolution urges legislators to continue the moratorium on uranium mining throughout the commonwealth.

The resolution in its entirety follows:
Resolution Concerning Possible Uranium Mining
“Whereas, God proclaimed that humans are empowered to “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28 (NRSV)
“Whereas, it is humans’ place to not only have dominion, but to be stewards over God’s creation.
“Whereas, humans have rebelled against God and His plan for the environment and our role in it;
“Whereas, the profit taking from the earth and natural resources has brought harm to the environment and pain to humanity;
“Whereas, as Christians, we must treat nature as having value in itself and exercise dominion without being destructive and we must be willing to stand for what is best for the environment and not for the interests of individuals or business.
“Whereas, the Virginia Uranium, Incorporated desires to mine a radioactive element in our neighboring county and that mining could result in pollution of groundwater and the Banister River.
“Be it resolved that the Dan River Baptist Association stands for the preservation of our environment and the conservation of our natural resources. We therefore express our opposition of the mining of uranium in Pittsylvania County as it can do irreparable damage to God’s gift of creation and the environment.
“Be it further resolved that we urge those who hold elected office, and who vote on this issue, to maintain the moratorium on mining of uranium within the commonwealth.
“We encourage others who are equally concerned about this issue to also contact their elected officials.”
Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining since 1982, but Virginia Uranium now has a state permit to conduct exploratory drilling to verify the deposit. The company began test drilling in December.
A bill in the General Assembly to study the benefits and risks of uranium mining went before the Senate Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources Committee for the second time Monday morning.
The Agriculture Committee discussed the bill last week before assigning it to a special subcommittee headed by Sen. Roscoe Reynolds of Henry County.
Last week, the bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, agreed to amend the bill to hold public hearings and expand the proposed commission from 15 to 17 members to include representatives from Pittsylvania County and Halifax County.
The commission also would include three members of the Senate, five from the House of Delegates, and four other “nonlegislative” citizen members appointed by the governor.
Reynolds’ subcommittee had recommended limiting the uranium study to Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, but that suggestion was rejected by the full committee Monday.
The commission’s report would be due by Dec. 15, 2009.

Reprinted with permission of The Gazette-Virginian in South Boston.

Where do the Pittsylvania County Baptists Stand on Uranium Pollution?????????????