Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Northern Quebec Communities Demand End of Uranium Prospecting

Comment:  No one wants uranium mining, people in Canada do not want it, VA does not want it, stop the practice  of greed, we do not want nukes plants either, cannot afford it, do not want it!  Keep the ban!
press release

Dec. 18, 2011, 5:13 p.m. EST
by Uracan

HAVRE-SAINT-PIERRE, QUEBEC, Dec 18, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Minganie sans uranium, an organization of citizens engaged in the fight against uranium mining in Minganie and Quebec, sent a letter to the Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, Clement Gignac, to demand the immediate end of uranium prospecting and mining-related activities by Uracan.

Bill 14, which is currently under review at a parliamentary commission, calls for an amendment of Quebec's mining law to include a provision on social acceptability. Both the ex-Minister of Natural Resources, Nathalie Normandeau, and the current Minister Gignac have consistently reiterated that this provision is a necessity.

All eight municipalities in Minganie, a region of Northern Quebec, have already voted in favour of a resolution against uranium prospecting on their territory. On November 23rd, the Regional County Municipality of Minganie also adopted a resolution outlawing all uranium-related activities within an area of 50 kilometers north of the coastline. Clearly, there is no social support for uranium mining in Minganie.

Uracan's drilling sites are located in the area covered by the resolution. This is why we ask that Minister Gignac act immediately and tell Uracan to pack its bags and leave. We will not tolerate more drilling. We demand that the company cease all its activities and move its installations, equipment and machineries elsewhere. If it fails to do so, actions will be taken.

We also ask that Uracan provide compensation to those who have been negatively affected by its activities. For instance, Aguanish hunters have been unable to take full advantage of the hunting season because of the constant presence of helicopters, and this, despite the supposed good will the company has shown in the media. Uracan had also promised to build a fence around the plot they rented from the village of Aganish; they have not followed through on their word, which has affected the security of citizens. People from Baie-Johan-Beetz have said that the company has damaged trails by going through them with their vehicles. Businesses, camping grounds and outfitters have all been affected by the incessant passage of helicopters. Cabin owners have lost their peacefulness. All these disturbances warrant reparation. At the very least, when we are not invited somewhere and we disturb others, we should apologize.

We demand that Uracan leave the region by February 15th, 2012, and that the company inform the population by making public their departure from the Regional County Municipality of Minganie's territory.

In the letter we sent to Minister Gignac, we also asked for a moratorium on uranium mining in Quebec - this means a Plan Nord without uranium. All uranium-related activities, including the transport of radioactive waste on the St-Laurence and the transport by road and storage of nuclear waste in Quebec should be included in this moratorium. We also demand the decommissioning of the Gentilly 2 and the complete decontamination its site and surrounding areas.

Read more:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/northern-quebec-communities-demand-end-of-uranium-prospecting-by-uracan-2011-12-18