Yvonne Devine says uranium mining has no economic benefits
Published Thursday July 3rd, 2008
President of southeastern chapter of the Conservation Council of N.B. also says it's not good for province's tourism sector.
There are certain jobs that don't pay much and fighting for the environment is one of them. It's with a great deal of passion, however, that Yvonne Devine is devoting her life to the pro bono work of fighting against uranium mining in New Brunswick. In the last few months since she first spoke to [here] Magazine on the subject when it was still little known in the province, the president of southeast chapter of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick has reached thousands of people province-wide with an adamant determination to end the uranium mining industry.
Uranium mining allows companies to mine for uranium on your land. Since uranium, which is used in nuclear energy, has a high pricetag, the province of N.B. stands to make a lot of money with it since there's a lot of uranium in this province. Add that to the fact the mining itself is very dangerous due to the toxicity of the substance or "tailings" left behind that contain radioactive materials, and you have a quite a concerned group of citizens.
Uranium mining discussions have also pointed out to residents that we literally don't own our own land. Mining rights to our property belong to the province (the Crown) and can be sold to any company that wishes to exploit the resources. They can't claim what's on our private property: our house, our lawn, in the front and in the back, our garage, our driveway and if we have a garden. But they can claim everything else around it.
As a response to the CCNB's efforts, certain important events have occurred in the last few months. Both the City of Moncton (on March 17), and the Town of Riverview (on April 14), unanimously passed a resolution for a ban on uranium exploration and mining. On April 23, nine Francophone municipalities in southeastern New Brunswick asked for an interim moratorium on uranium exploration in the region.
"What we've found in all of this," Devine says, "is that pretty much all the people we've talked to are upset that this is being done without consultation. They don't want mines in New Brunswick."
On March 30 CCNB held an information session at the Capitol Theatre with presenters dealing with different aspects of uranium mining and its health and economic effects. Over 700 people attended.
"Since then," Devine explains, "we've given presentations across the province for over the 2,000 people."
As for the support of the provincial government, it's been mixed.
On the one hand, the Department of Natural Resources has held a public information sessions on uranium exploration and mining from June 4-5.
"One of the people posing a question asked the people in the room to stand up if they didn't want uranium mining in the province and everybody stood up. That was a real firm indication to the province that the people don't want it."
On the other hand, on April 24, all members of the NB Liberal Party stood up in the legislature to reject a motion by the PCs for a moratorium, which is a legally authorized period of delay or a waiting period set by an authority, on uranium exploration and mining in N.B.
On May 23, a motion for a referendum on uranium exploration and mining in N.B. was likewise rejected.
Among the people protesting are the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet First Nations in New Brunswick. In a letter published June 24 in the Telegraph Journal, Ruth Levi, president of the Mawiw Council, voiced her concerns: "Of particular concern to the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet peoples," she said, "is the scourge of uranium mining. If uranium mining takes place it will take place in our backyards, near our farms and villages, close to our rivers. The First Nations will not allow their natural heritage to be poisoned by this ill-conceived effort."
Devine feels the government is making the mistake of looking at this from an economic perspective.
"But even from an economic perspective, it's not a good idea. They're left with all the waste that has to be managed. Then there's the long-term health care from the effects of the radioactive material. They'd be putting all the money in the health care system and in trying to clean up the environment. We're promoting the province as a tourist destination, a clean place to come where people will be free to walk in the woods. We can't have it if you're going to have uranium mining."
For more information on uranium mining visit the CCNB website at http://conservationcouncil.ca/southeast. To contact Yvonne Devine, e-mail ydevine@nb.sympatico.ca .
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