From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Native: Uranium Mining in Saskatchewan, CA
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 09:06:26 GMT

/** gen.nativenet: 336.0 **/
** Topic: ICUC APPEAL FROM SASKATCHEWAN **
** Written  9:06 am  Nov 16, 1992 by mek in cdp:gen.nativenet **
From: D. J. Dullemond <mek>
Subject: ICUC APPEAL FROM SASKATCHEWAN

                 URGENT APPEAL FROM SASKATCHEWAN, CANADA. 
                           YOUR HELP IS NEEDED. 
 
Uranium Capital of the World 
 
     Northern Saskatchewan, Canada is now mining the largest
volume of Uranium anywhere 
on this planet. Northern Saskatchewan has the highest
concentration of Uranium bearing ore 
found to date. If new proposed Uranium mines proceed,
Saskatchewan will soon be producing 
about 30% of world production. Almost all this Uranium (about
90%) is exported to the US, 
Europe and the Far East. Companies from Canada, France, Germany,
Japan and South Korea are 
presently involved in this mining. 
Note: approximately 50% of Saskatchewan Uranium goes to Sequoyah
Fuels in Oklahoma (US). 
 
     Since the opening of the mines in 1980 there have been, in
addition to contamination 
from day to day mine operation, over 100 radioactive spills.
Indigenous people have 
received very few and only short-term jobs. The province has
received a pittance of 
royalties. The inherent aboriginal rights of indigenous peoples
have steadily been ignored 
or dismissed.  
 
     In recent years the Uranium industry in Saskatchewan has
allied with Atomic Energy 
of Canada Ltd. (AECL) to promote research on the construction of
CANDU nuclear reactors in 
Saskatchewan and storage of high level nuclear waste in Northern
Saskatchewan. 
 
     Concerns grow about North Saskatchewan becoming another
National Sacrifice Area for 
the nuclear industry. 
 
New Mines 
 
     The new social democratic provincial government - the New
Democratic Party (NDP) - 
came to power in 1991 with a party policy opposing new Uranium
mines, and supporting the 
phase-out of the 3 existing mines with the provision of
alternative employment in the 
north. When the NDP took office, 6 new mining projects were
already in the advance 
planning stage. These projects involve 12 new Uranium mining
sites and 4 new Uranium 
mills. Th)T 
     In response to growing pressure for an open public review on
these projects, there 
are now two federal provincial inquiries in place. 
 
     At the NDP convention, November 6, 1992, the party changed
it's position on Uranium 
mining by a slim margin of support. The NDP has held a position
opposing the expansion of 
Uranium industry since 1983. The NDP will now allow new mines to
be opened depending on 
the results of the Federal Provincial Review Panel. Although the
guidelines for the panel 
are better than previous inquiries, they do not include end uses
of Uranium. This has 
clear implications for the international community. 
 
     An article in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix of November 12
indicates that a deal 
between AECL and the government will be signed within weeks. The
deal will include 
research for the CANDU-3 reactor, food irradiation technology,
medical uses of radiation, 
and very likely high level nuclear waste disposal in the Canadian
shield. The deal may 
also include a Uranium refinery. In 1980 a Uranium refinery was
proposed for Saskatchewan, 
but due to public resistance was built in Northern Ontario. 
 
     It is clear that the NDP government is listening to the
industry and tries to "sell" 
this Uranium policy to the public as an unavoidable economic
necessity, thereby violating 
environmental policies and human rights. 
 
URGENT APPEAL 
 
     We urgently appeal to you to help stop Uranium mining in
Saskatchewan. We want to 
redirect our province and country on to a non-nuclear and
sustainable path. The health and 
well being of future generations and all life around the earth
depends on this.  
 
     We therefore ask all readers to write the premier and
government of Saskatchewan, 
and the Federal provincial Review Panel to encourage them not to
permit any new mines, to 
close existing ones, to develop alternative jobs in the north,
and use an energy strategy 
based on efficiency and renewable energy. Please emphasize any
implications of 
Saskatchewan Uranium in your region. Discuss how this Uranium is
being used in nuclear Th)Treactors - and military oriented facilities - in your country,
that are unsafe, create 
world security problems and nuclear waste problems.  
Letters to the Canadian and Saskatchewan media protesting that
Saskatchewan is considering 
more Uranium mining would also be helpful. 
 
     Please take the time to write a short letter quickly to any
or all of the addresses 
below. It is important that a copy is send to the Inter-Church
Uranium Committee to insure 
the letters are made public. 
 
Kindest regards, 
Phillip Penna 
coordinator 
Inter-Church Uranium Committee (ICUC), 
Box 7724 
Saskatoon, Sask.,    S7K 4R4 
Canada 
Tel:         (306) 934 3030 
Fax:         (306) 652 8377 
e-mail:      web:icuc 
 
ICUC is supported by church leadership of the Saskatchewan Roman
Catholic Church, Anglican 
Church, United Church, Lutheran Church and various Mennonite
constituencies. 
 
Addresses: 
 
Premier Roy Romanow, 
and copy to All members of the NDP Caucus 
Legislative Building 
Regina, Sask.,       S4S 0P3, Canada 
Tel: (306) 787 0880 or (306) 787 9433 
Fax: (306) 787 0885 
 
Panel Secretariat: 
Jackie Kelly 
Uranium Mine Development Review Office 
Rm. 420, 1955 Smith St. 
Regina, Sask.,       S4P 2N8, Canada 
Call collect: (306) 780 8251 
Fax:          (306) 780 8250 
 
John Mathers, Executive Secretary 
Rabbit Lake Review Panel 
FEARO (Vancouver Office) 
Harbour Centre 
Box 12071,  
Suite 1150, 555 West Hastings St. 
Vancouver, BC,       V6B 4N5, Canada 
Call collect: (604) 666 6961 Th)TFax:          (604) 666 6990 
 
Papers: 
the Globe and Mail, 444 Frontstreet W., Toronto ON, M5V 2S9,
Canada,  
 
Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 204 5th Ave. North, Saskatoon Sask., S7K
2N9, Canada 
 
Moose Jaw Times Herald, Moose Jaws, Sask., Canada 
 
Prince Albert Herald, Prince Albert, Sask., Canada 
 
La Ronge Northerner, La Ronge, Sask., Canada 
 
Regina Leader Post, Victoria Ave. and Park St., Regina, Sask.,
Canada
** End of text from cdp:gen.nativenet **

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