Who are the investors in Virginia Uranium? (Investors sitting on VA Boards)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 4:59 PM EDT

According to Anita Kumar of the Washington Post, as of January 2008, 31 people had invested in Virginia Uranium Inc., "several of whom live in the area."

Some of the investors are known to the public; many are not.

Investments of citizens are not normally of concern. However, if citizens are appointed to public committees and are allowed to determine policy that will positively affect their personal investments, there is a problem.

Uranium mining is currently prohibited in Virginia. Virginia will be forever changed if uranium mining, milling and resulting waste disposal from these processes occur.

So too, will the bottom line for the investors in Virginia Uranium Inc. They will directly financially benefit if uranium mining occurs.

Who are these investors? How many are in public positions enabling them to influence pro-mining policy?

Do VUI investors sit on the Tobacco Indemnification Commission, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, other boards, commissions, bureaus, and agencies that will decide Virginia's fate regarding uranium mining and milling?

Do you think they will fairly represent and protect you and your interests or have their personal investment as a priority?

How many elected officials are currently making decisions based on the uranium industry's promises?

It was recently learned that one of the local investors sits on the Tobacco Indemnification Commission and endorsed $200,000 for a Virginia Coal and Energy Commission's socio-economic study.

Is that appropriate? He could have, and most likely should have, recused himself.

The only purpose his vote served was to further erode public confidence in the uranium study process being pushed by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission (which is already in the toilet).

Politics, not science, will determine if uranium is mined in Virginia. There is no way we'll be "safely" mined and everybody knows it.

Why are we continuing with this expensive, divisive and corrupt game? I imagine that answer can be calculated in the billions... by the investors.

Karen B. Maute
Danville, VA (Pittsylvania County)

Read more:
http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2010/04/28/chatham/opinion/opinion01.txt