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 Coalition Organized to Oppose Uranium Mining in BC
Kelowna, BC
February 18, 2006
by Dave Cursons
A Uranium Free BC Coalition emerged from a weekend conference in Kelowna. Thirty people from the Kootenay-Boundary, Similkameen and Okanagan as well as First Nations representatives met to review the issues and to commit to stopping exploration for and mining of uranium.
The meeting called upon the BC Provincial Government to immediately renew a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining. They also want to reactivate a public inquiry into health risks, environmental impacts and end uses associated with uranium exploration and mining.
The meeting was called a Uranium Inquiry Conference as a reference to the Public Inquiry into Uranium Mining conducted in the late 1970’s. That inquiry was shut down in 1980 and a seven year moratorium on uranium exploration and mining was put in place.
Opposition to the end of the moratorium in 1987 focused upon regulations devised to deal with health and environmental risks in uranium exploration and mining. This weekend’s Uranium Inquiry Conference noted that these regulations have since been further weakened.
Recent activity in world uranium markets have aroused public concern about radioactive spillage from uranium exploration and mining in the South Central Interior. Proven uranium claims such as those at the Blizzard deposit near Big White Ski Resort and in claims in the Penticton Indian Band watershed near Apex Alpine Ski Resort are of special concern.
The Kelowna conference reviewed data on the negative health effects of radioactive mine tailings in air and water courses. Of further concern is the lack of any safe disposal plan for spent uranium fuel from nuclear power plants. The end use of uranium in nuclear weapons was also discussed.
The Uranium Free BC Coalition is now engaging with partners in business, religious, medical, environmental, agricultural, and recreational communities and with First Nations.
Work with local government has already begun with a resolution from the Okanagan Shuswap LRMP table meeting at Westbank on February 17th. That LRMP called for a Public Inquiry Into Uranium Mining and for a moratorium on exploration and mining of uranium.
The Uranium Free BC Coalition meets next on March 25th in Kelowna.
Contacts:
Dave Cursons 250-499-5417
Peter Chataway 250-763-5367
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