October 30, 2011
For More Information:
King Salim Khalifani
statenaacp@aol.com
Naomi Hodge-Muse
Cell: (276) 632-9674
hodgemuse@gmail.com
Virginia NAACP Unanimously Passes Resolution to Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining
Richmond, VA – At their state convention this morning, the Virginia State Conference National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) unanimously passed a resolution to supporting the nearly 30 year ban on uranium mining in Virginia.
“The risk uranium mining poses to our drinking water, air quality and local communities far outweighs the benefit,” said King Salim Khalifani, Executive Director Virginia State NAACP. “Virginia NAACP recognizes that the event modeled in the City of Virginia Beach study is rare, but the magnitude of potential impacts on people of color and all the people in Virginia is too great to leave it to chance.”
Virginia has a nearly 30-year ban on uranium mining. The industry is trying to lift that ban starting at a site in the economically depressed region of Southside Virginia. While the industry has focused on this one deposit as a pressure point for lifting the ban, an industry executive is on record as stating that he believes there is uranium mining potential throughout Virginia.
“Uranium mining is a bad deal for Southside and a bad deal for Virginia,” said Naomi Hodge-Muse, President of the Martinsville-Henry County NAACP where the resolution was initially passed. “The industry wants us to sit still, but the health of our communities is too important not to speak out and protect it.”
The Virginia NAACP joins a growing and diverse movement of 70 organizations and localities, and 7,250 citizens who have passed resolutions or taken action in support of the ban on uranium mining in Virginia. For a full list go to: www.KeepTheBan.org.
###
Mary Rafferty
Grassroots Organizing Manager
Sierra Club - Virginia Chapter
Email: Mary.rafferty@sierraclub.org
Office: (804) 225-9113 ext 103
Cell: (401) 862-8749
