Exploration continues north of Moncton despite repeated public outcry.  According to a report by the CBC, one potential driller has found enough deposits of the toxic mineral to progress its exploration to the next phase.  To the best of my understanding, this exploration started last summer and immediatly met criticism from the public.  One major concern is that uranium mining will contaminate the Turtle Creek watershed, which provides water to Dieppe, Moncton, and Riverview.

I did some quick looking around into the potential dangers of uranium.

The following information is provided by the B.C. Medical Association. 

The present average allowable exposure to the public  [ of 0.02 WL of radon exposure ]  could result in 200-300 extra cases of lung cancer per 10,000 people per lifetime. In light of current knowledge, this might be considered tantamount to allowing an industrially induced and publicly sanctioned epidemic of cancer.

Radon contamination of ground water may be a health risk in pincushion drilling typical of advanced exploration, yet under present AECB regulations, a couple of hundred drill holes can be made without obtaining a license. AECB admitted to having no scientific data to show this is safe; the regulation was based on an arbitrary administrative decision.

The BCMA calls for an Emergency Task Force into tightening the present radiation standards. Review by the AECB or by its Committees is unacceptable; the Task Force should be under the Advisory Council on Occupational Health and Safety or the Science Council of Canada

 How desperate are we for jobs?  New Brunswick will not profit from Uranium mining.  Inevitably what will happen is that some major companies will reap huge rewards and the people of southeastern NB will get lung cancer.  We don’t have to put up with this.  The news out of Saskatchewan is that their economy is booming.  What we’re not being told is that there are hundreds of millions of tons of uranium mine waste that are going to be left to poison the future.  In an article published in the Edmonton Journal, a mine that has cost 500 million to bring into production could not prevent major flooding.  Industry and government would like to maintain the illusion that they can control and contain these hazardous materials.  The truth is that total control is impossible.  Abstinance is the only way to make sure that you don’t get fucked.  All it takes to stop this from happening is for us to stand up and be counted.

In addition to the immediate environmental and health concerns there are the ethical considerations inherent to the uses that uranium is put to.

“All uranium ends up as either nuclear weapons or highly radioactive waste from nuclear reactors.  That’s the destiny of all the uranium that’s mined. And in the process of mining the uranium we liberate these naturally occurring radioactive substances, which are among the most harmful materials known to science.” 

 

One of the most disquieting things I’ve ever come across is the birth defects and abhorrent effects of Depleted Uranium rounds.  Most of the images I have seen come out of Iraq. 

Anyone who wants to make the argument that uranium mining is good for the economy, take a good long look at this child and try to imagine the pain in your heart you’d feel if that child were yours.