Uranium mining in Meghalaya

Ragi Kana Ko Bonga Buru ( Buddha weeps in Jadugoda ) documents the devastating effects of uranium mining by Uranium Corporation of India Limited in Jadugoda. For the last thirty years, the radioactive wastes have been just dumped into the rice fields of the Adivasis according to the film. The complete neglect of the authorities to radioactive waste management rules wreaks havoc in the daily lives of the villagers and children with genetic deformities become quite common.

Comment: Uranium mining has hurt and killed people all over the Earth and what for: Pure Greed and heck with the people around the mining. Why is Virginia starting in Pittsylvania County, Virginia for the proposed uranium mining? Uranium is located all over Virginia but the first proposed mine would start in one of the poor counties, our county but later would spread to the richer counties where movie stars have horse farms! Demand the world to ban uranium mining and our state to protect her citizens from Greed!

by deathvirgo16, India
by jeffrey kharsyntiew
Published on: Oct 29, 2009

Dear all,

I think all of us know about uranium and its consequences. The real question is, “Are we really concerned about this issue?” Many countries worry about nuclear energy, not for their scientific development, but out of greed for power.

Uranium mining for peace and development is a contradiction. Many states that fall into the trap of uranium mining are now under great threat.

Within them, there exist only poverty, health hazards and a threat to the environment.

Till now we have not seen any development in these areas. Where is the promise of progress and development?

India is a nuclear power.

This has encourages uranium mining in the country.

Due to its position in the global hierarchy, India needs a lot of uranium in order to aspire for the top, but is India aware of the risks it is are going to which it is going to subject its own citizens?

The documentary film, "Buddha weeps in Jadugoda", shows Jadugoda, the place where uranium mining takes place under critical conditions.

Before mining, the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) promised the people development and safety in terms of health and the environment. But where are these?

Due to uranium mining, the health of the people has been largely affected by radiation. This radiation causes cancer and many serious illnesses and it also affects the genes (and, of course, the next generation). People have begun to suffer from various deformities and physical and mental disorders. The saddest part is that there is no treatment for these.



Even water bodies have been poisoned and polluted due to the flow of uranium waste. There is only misery and poverty in Jadugoda today. Is the government aware of all this? Does it feel pity for these people? Why does the government make false promises?

We all know about the current situation in Meghalaya, India. Law and order were disturbed due to the 209 crore UCIL development, which clearly marks the beginnings of a uranium project in the state.

However, our political leaders are not paying attention to the impact that we, the people, will suffer once the mining begins.

Naturally they know about the threat posed by uranium, but they were so blinded to it, perhaps because of the money which they will get in benefit from the project.

Part of the 209 crore will flow into the bank accounts of our leaders.

This is the main reason why they want to start this project without even consulting the public.

They don’t mind putting our lives in danger just for the sake of money.

They can settle anywhere in the country later, but what will happen to the poor people living near the uranium mines? Where will they go? Who will take responsibility for them? Who will carry their burdens and difficulties? Who will provide the answers to all these questions?

If we want to stop this nightmare before our state becomes the next Jadugoda, now is the time.

 As concerned citizens of the state, we should make efforts to uproot all the evil elements of society and to stop irresponsible leaders from playing with the lives of the people.

Our lives should not depend on them.

Once again, say “No” to Uranium mining in Meghalaya.

Thank you.
J. Kharsyntiew,
Dum Dum, Nongthymmai,
Shillong, Meghalaya,
INDIA.

Read more:
http://www.takingitglobal.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=26661
http://www.tigweb.org/express/panorama/article.html?ContentID=26661

SUIT TO AIR INTERNAL EPA PROTESTS ON RADIATION EXPOSURE PLAN

Comment:  Everyone should write the EPA and demand them not to change the radiation exposure!

News Releases
Immediate Release: October 28, 2009
Contact: Kirsten Stade (202) 265-7337

SUIT TO AIR INTERNAL EPA PROTESTS ON RADIATION EXPOSURE PLAN — Experts’ Objections to Radically Higher Radiation Exposure Levels Yet to Be Seen

Washington, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not come clean on its plan to dramatically raise permissible radioactive release levels, according to a lawsuit filed today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

The new draft standards have been promulgated in secrecy despite sharp controversy about allowing public exposure to radiation levels vastly higher than those EPA had previously deemed unacceptably dangerous.

The plan to markedly relax radiation standards was signed off on in the final days of the Bush administration, suspended by the new Obama administration prior to its publication.

Obama EPA appointees are now weighing its fate. On June 11, 2009, PEER submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for all of the comments submitted by EPA and other federal and state agency officials to the EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) as it prepared its updated Protective Action Guides, which govern radiation protection decisions following releases from accidents or attacks. PEER had received verbal reports that both internal and external reviewers registered grave concerns about the radical relaxation of radiation exposure limits being proposed.

They would significantly increase allowable public exposure to radioactivity in drinking water, including a nearly 1000-fold increase in strontium-90, a 3000 to 100,000-fold hike for iodine-131, and an almost 25,000 increase for nickel-63.

The new radiation guidance would also allow long-term cleanup standards thousands of times more lax than anything EPA has ever before accepted, permitting doses to the public that EPA itself estimates would cause a cancer in as much as every fourth person exposed. These relaxations of radiation protection requirements are favored by the nuclear industry and allies in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Energy Department.

“EPA has bypassed open dialogue on how much radiation the public will be allowed to receive in the event of a release, and is now suppressing evidence of internal dissent on these controversial proposals,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that congressional leaders, such as Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), have been expressing concerns about EPA’s intentions.

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