kNOw-URANIUM.org

 

Working Together to Keep Eastern Ontario and West Quebec Uranium Free

 

Contact:  info@kNOw-URANIUM.org

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 Welcome.

This site supports the work of the Ottawa Coalition Against Mining Uranium (OCAMU), the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU) and the West Quebec Coalition Against Mining Uranium (WQ-CAMU) .

Collectively these three community associations are trying to peacefully protect the greater Ottawa-Gatineau region, including its watersheds (Ottawa, Mississippi, Rideau and Gatineau), from uranium exploration, mining and milling-related toxins.

 

OCAMU is growing and we are seeking to expand our event/news mailing list and are looking for the support of additional concerned citizens in the Ottawa-Gatineau region! 

Please contact us if you'd like to be added to our list or to participate in or help with organizing meetings, events or other actions:  http://know-uranium.org/contact 

 

BULLETINS:

The Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU) has released its much anticipated report from the Citizen's Enquiry into the Impacts of the Uranium Cycle.  Entitled STAKING OUR CLAIM FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE, the report includes recommendations as follows:

  1. ... An immediate moratorium on the exploration and mining of uranium in Ontario until such time as all environmental and health issues related to mining uranium are resolved and a full examination is completed of the cumulative impacts of these activities on air, land, and water

  2. The Ontario government establish a royal commission to review the Mining Act and bring its provisions in line with current values and expectations, and in the interim enact a new policy or law prohibiting prospectors from entering private land and First Nations land without written consent.

For more on the recommendations and a copy of the full report (PDF):
Twenty municipal level governments in eastern Ontario (representing about one million people) have asked for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining.  On June 16, 2008, the City of Peterborough was the latest to join in!  Here is the list:
  • Cities of Ottawa, Kingston and Peterborough
  • Municipalities and Townships of Haliburton County, Frontenac County, Lanark County, Dysart et al, Algonquin Highlands, Highlands East, Minden Hills, Perth, Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands, North Frontenac, Central Frontenac, South Frontenac, Tay Valley, Beckwith, Mississippi Mills, and Drummond/North Elmsley

Nine municipal level governments in southern Quebec have also asked for a moratorium, with Cantley being the latest (May 2008).  Here is the list:

  • MRC des Collines de L'Outaouais:  La Peche (supported by the Council of Mayors of the MRC des Collines de L'Outaouais), Chelsea, Cantley
  • MRC Antoine-Labelle:  Riviere-Rouge, Chute-Saint-Philippe, Lac-Saint-Paul, Ferme-Neuve, Lac-du-Cerf
  • MRC des Laurentides: Lac-Supérieur

 

Call for Help From Other Groups in Ottawa/Gatineau!

 

  • Without official public consultations, environmental assessment and independent health and safety studies, many people within the Ottawa/Gatineau watershed are left in the dark about the proposed uranium mining and its consequences on their health and environment.
  • Since informing everyone within Ottawa/Gatineau is a work of monumental proportions, OCAMU is asking groups and individuals to adopt this awareness raising campaign and do any type of outreach possible anywhere in Ottawa and Gatineau at any time.
  • Contact us if you are looking for information material or if you want to organize an information presentation for your group.
  • We must reach out to each other because our collective water supply is at stake. Losing water, we lose our very basis for survival. There is no safe amount of radioactivity or heavy metals. Even a bit of uranium mining is too much for too long.
  • LET'S STOP IT BEFORE IT BEGINS!
     

Other news:

  • Lakes across Canada face being turned into mine dump sites!  According to CBC News, 16 Canadian lakes are slated to be officially but quietly "reclassified" as toxic dump sites for mines. The lakes include prime wilderness fishing lakes from B.C. to Newfoundland

More information:  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/06/16/condemned-lakes.html

 

  • Robert Lovelace has been released from prison!  He won his appeal in court May 28, 2008!  Charges against all the remaining eastern Ontario native and non-native protestors were dropped in court on Kingston on June 2, 2008!

More information:  http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1055223&auth=BY+FRANK+ARMSTRONGWHIG-STANDARD+STAFF+WRITER

  • On May 14, 2008 Councillor Diane Holmes of the City of Ottawa sent a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty asking for a response to the City of Ottawa's resolution requesting a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in Eastern Ontario.  For more:

http://know-uranium.org/ottawa_city_council

  • On April 24, 2008,British Columbia announced a ban on uranium exploration and mining across the province. Nova Scotia re-confirmed its moratorium on April 15, 2008. What enlightened precedence! If British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Nunatsiavut (Inuit Lands, Newfoundland and Labrador), Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (Upper Thelon Basin, Northwest Territories) and Virignia (USA) can do it, so can Ontario and Quebec! Read more:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080425.RURANIUM25//TPStory/Business

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/04/15/uranium-ban.html

  • On April 22, 2008, the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium in eastern Ontario ended it's final session of the Citizens' Uranium Enquiry. The final report is meant to be released on June 28, 2008. For more information and to view some of the submissions see:
http://www.uraniumcitizensinquiry.com/
  • 17 municipalities/counties in Ontario have asked for a moratorium on uranium exploration and mining in eastern Ontario: City of Ottawa, City of Kingston, Lanark County, Frontenac County, Lanark Highlands, North Frontenac, Central Frontenac, South Frontenac, Tay Valley, Beckwith, Perth, Carleton Place, Mississippi Mills, Drummond/North Elmsley, Haliburton Highlands, Municipality of Dysart, Algonquin Highlands

 

  • Please help us take urgent action to prevent uranium mining in eastern Ontario! Some simple things you can do to help are here:

http://know-uranium.org/take_action

 

Featured Links:

 Click on the links for the following sites or sub-sites:

                                                                                                     

Why "KNOW" Uranium?

The uranium mining and nuclear power interests would have us believe that uranium mining is necessary for our future power needs, and that both the mining process and nuclear power are completely safe, clean and green. We believe the public needs to educate itself on the facts, and not industry propaganda. For the future of our children and our planet, we encourage you to KNOW Uranium and how its mining and use affects our future and that of generations to come.

Edward Burtynsky
Uranium Tailings #12, Elliot Lake, Ontario, 1995
chromogenic print

http://www.cowlesgallery.com/ 

 

 

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