Comment: The only thing that will trickle down is the uranium in our water! Keep the ban!
By: The Editorial Board | GoDanRiver
Published: July 22, 2012 Updated: July 22, 2012 - 7:00 AM
To the editor:
As the time of decision about lifting the moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia comes closer, we hear more and more about the risks involved — the risk of contamination of our water supply, the risk of increased incidents of cancers affecting the people in the area, the risk of lowering property values, the risk of people and businesses leaving the area and the risk of private schools closing due to lack of students who might choose not to come to this area, etc.
How great are the risks? How great is the risk of a tornado striking a mound of radioactive tailings, and scattering the radioactive dirt all over the area? How great is the risk of a prolonged heavy rain that could wash the radioactive dirt into our streams contaminating our water supply? Tornadoes and torrential rains are not strangers to this area; they can and may happen here and with disastrous consequences of widespread radiation poisoning that could last for many years.
But what are the rewards? Obviously, the stockholders of the uranium mining company will be the first to see the benefits. All of them are likely to get filthy rich.
If the mining brings about a modest lift to the area’s economy the rest of us will get some trickle down benefits, but is that enough to put at risk the health and welfare of the entire population of the area?
Think about it.
Danville
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/jul/22/will-benefits-trickle-down-ar-2073886/
