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BC Okanagans support the Alogonquin Uraniu Blockade |
Okanagans Support Algonquins on Uranium Blockade
Thirty delegates to the Uranium Free B.C.Coalition ( UFBCC.) met September 29th in the Penticton Indian Band Hall.
The UFBCC has called for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in British Columbia and for all party agreement in the BC Legislature to ban uranium mining.
The Coalition gave unequivocal support from the people of the Interior of B.C. and from Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Chiefs to the Algonquin people and Ardoch First Nation Chiefs Paula Sherman
and Randy Cota, who are blockading the Sharbot Lake proposed uranium mining site in the Ottawa River valley near Kingston, Ontario.
(See attached statement below from Grand Chief Stewart Phillip).
"These courageous First Nations people have been stationed at the entrance to the proposed uranium mine site since June 2007 while Frontenac Ventures Corporation is suing them for $77 million while continuing to prospect for uranium ", said Peter Chataway of Kelowna who
chaired the UFBCC.meeting.
"The government should be protecting the environment and the health of people from radioactive contamination by prohibiting uranium exploration and mining", Chataway said.
"Uranium exploration and mining liberates large quantities of
dangerous radioactive materials into the air we breathe, the water we drink
and the food we eat, resulting in cancers and other diseases", Chataway
said.
The delegates voted to join the Canadian Peace Alliance, an
organization representing more than 180 social justice and environmental
groups with international connections
"We have now joined regional, national and international opposition
to uranium exploration and
mining ", said Laura Savinkoff, of Grand Forks, B.C.
Recently, the municipality of Summerland in the Okanagan Valley
initiated an indoor radon gas monitoring program to determine the
background/baseline levels of radon, a breakdown product of uranium and the
second biggest cause of lung cancer after smoking.
All levels of government must be accountable and responsible
for measuring radiation before and after the projects," said Mayor Dave
Gregory of Summerland at the UFBCC meeting.
"All land disturbances in known uranium areas such as logging roads,
highway expansion and residential land development may impact the
environment and people's health" Gregory added.
Former miner and now rancher, Joe Falkowski ,from the Committee
for a Clean Kettle Valley in Rock Creek, B.C. stated that all geologists,
miners, loggers and construction crews should be issued with Geiger counters
to measure radiation and be trained how to use them as part of their
on-going work throughout the known uranium areas in the interior of B.C.
more
2/2
continued
"The Big White ski resort seems more concerned about the
aesthetics of an open-pit mine nearby than the air-borne hazards from
uranium exploration and mining," said Wayne Fipke another former miner and
now a rancher in Beaverdell, B.C.
"Leaking exploration drill holes and proposed uranium mining
impacts may be invisible but are deadly", said Fipke.
In May 2007 when the UFBCC delegates met with then Minister of
State for Mines, Bill Bennett, promises were made by the B.C. government to
repair and monitor leaking drill holes and those are now broken promises",
concluded Fipke.
"Nuclear weapons need nuclear power plants for supplies, which
need uranium mining from exploration and our purpose is to stop this
devilish nuclear cycle before it starts ", said Dave Cursons an organic
farmer from Cawston, B.C. and secretary of the UFBCC.
"Radioactive wastes which cannot be neutralized, radon gas which
is the second largest cause of lung cancer after smoking and contaminated
water and soils are all good reasons to prevent this immoral industry from
starting in British Columbia", said Cursons.
"There are literally thousands of people in BC who are now
keenly aware of and actively involved in opposition to uranium exploration
and mining.", concluded UFBCC Chair, Peter Chataway.
The Penticton Indian Band Hall meeting was the sixth meeting of
the UFBCC since February 2006 including those in Kelowna, Rock Creek,
Castlegar, Vernon and the protests in Clearwater.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Chief Stewart Phillip 250-493-0048 Penticton
Peter Chataway 250-763-1334 Kelowna
Laura Savinkoff 250- 442-0434 Grand Forks
Mayor David Gregory 250-494-9030 Summerland
Joe Falkowski 250-466-2528 Rock Creek
Wayne Fipke 250-764-8789 Beaverdell / Kelowna
Dave Cursons 250-499-5417 Cawston/Keremeos
Statement from Grand Chief Phillip
Sent on BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: "Grand Chief Stewart Phillip" < president@ubcic.bc.ca>
Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:34:52
To:"Paula Sherman" <paulasherman@trentu.ca>
Subject: Uranium Free BC Coalition - Penticton BC
September 29, 2007
Chief Paula Sherman.
Good Afternoon Chief Sherman.
I am attending a Uranium Free BC Coalition meeting in BC.
Our meeting is being held at the Community Hall of the Penticton Indian
Band. Our meeting is being supported by members of many different
environmental organizations from the Central Interior of BC. In addition, we
have present and former members of our Band Council present as well as Band
members from other Okanagan Nation member communities.
The purpose of our coalition is to work toward the re-establishment of a
uranium exploration and mining moratorium in BC.
We are aware of your courageous fight to oppose the mining
testing/exploration being carried out by Frontenac Ventures at Sharbot Lake.
Information concerning your fight is being distributed at our UFBC
Coalition meeting. Your voice is being heard.
Please be advised that we fully support your struggle to oppose the
desecration and contamination of the homelands of the Algonquins of the
Ardoch First Nation.
In closing, I would like to offer Joan Phillip, a member of the Penticton
Indian Band, as a contact. Joan may be reached at the offices of the
Penticton Indian Band (1-250-493-0048) Cell: 1-250-488-0048. E-mail
jphillip@pib.ca
Sincerely yours,
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
Chief - Penticton Indian Band
Chair - Okanagan Nation Alliance
President - Union of BC Indian Chiefs |
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