Source: Netawek Ikjikum Vol. 4 - Issue 1 June 2008
By MAARS Director Roger Hunka
APRIL, 2008, WOLFVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA. Uranium as a pure element exists naturally in three forms: uranium 238, uranium 235 and uranium 234. Each of these forms, called isotopes, acts chemically similar for the most part, but has a different number of neutrons in the nucleus of the atom.
Each of these three isotopes is radioactive. Radioactive decay is a spontaneous process in which an atom of one element decays or breaks down into a different element or isotope by losing atomic particles. The decay process releases energy in the form of gamma radiation which is similar to x-rays.
The mining of uranium leaves a large environmental footprint. It takes about 55 tonnes of tailings to produce one tonne of a fairly rich grade of uranium. In a mining operation, huge quantities of radon gas are released into the air and dissolved in surface waters. This leads to all kinds of prospects for cancer of the lungs and other tissues exposed to radon gas.
Several decades ago, Nova Scotia passed a moratorium against uranium mining for the safety and well being of Nova Scotians. A new generation of young politicians, preoccupied with a false sense of empowerment and never witnessing or understanding the magnitude of mass destruction of lands, waters, air and life, raised the idea of lifting the moratorium. That idea sparked Nova Scotians of all walks of life to stand up and say NO.
A series of public meetings was sponsored throughout Nova Scotia, and one was held in Wolfville. The Native Council of Nova Scotia was invited and the Director of MAPC attended and shared with the audience the position of the Council Community, as confirmed in a community report produced several years ago. “No, we don’t want the mining of the black rock or money rock which kills.” Aboriginal People are too familiar with uranium mining in the North and across the United States.
The final word to consider as citizens: members of the Nova Scotia Legislature are elected to govern under principles which Canadians have formulated for the Federation of the Peoples of Canada throughout Canada. That is, “we desire to be better citizens” living with the belief in a God, the rule of Law, Peace, Order and Good Government. In short, to govern for our well being, life, safety and security. Only a traitor or tyrants would govern against those values.
Happily, the Executive Council of the Government of Nova Scotia chose to work for the well being of its citizens and reaffirmed to keep the moratorium in place. British Columbia has taken the same position and is placing a moratorium on uranium mining. Maybe the government of New Brunswick will start to respect its citizens and their well being and stop the insane dream of wasting billions of dollars to mine and build a nuclear reactor - a reactor which uses billions of gallons of water to cool its reactor core. That water is then flushed into the Bay of Fundy. Where have all the salmon gone? Can you think of one reason?
We must always remain vigilant and remind our governments that they are no more or no less than us citizens when it comes to life and respect for life.
Uranium has and continues to cause harm to life. For the small level of good uses, sadly there are thousands of bad uses and killer sisters activated by uranium put through a reactor. Human kind wishes it had never discovered it, or hopes that humanity will learn that it is very weak, frail, and unable to deal with this element.
Let us all put our minds and imaginations to look at using other sources or forms of energy which move with our life giving earth and not against it.
http://www.mapcmaars.ca/theblog/2008/09/19/uranium-mining-tailings-disastrous-to-water/
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