Challenge to uranium mining, poisoning water, on Lakota lands

CONTACT: Debra White Plume, Executive Director, Owe Aku lakota1@gwtc.net
Kent Lebsock, Owe Aku International Human Rights Project: iamkent@verizon.net

Seven Petitioners File for Hearing on Uranium Mine Expansion
First Request for Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hearing in 17 Years

“The entire issue is water, which is life itself, and our struggle is to protect it.” Thomas Cook

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On November 12, 2007, seven Petitioners from parts of the poorest region in the United States asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to participate in decisions relative to uranium mining and its harmful effects in northwestern Nebraska and the Lakota (Sioux) Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Southwest South Dakota . According to NRC sources, this is the first request to intervene in an NRC proceeding relating to the expansion of an existing uranium mining operation in approximately 17 years. The petitioners are Thomas Cook, Chadron Native American Center, Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Corp., High Plains Community Development Corp., Western Nebraska Resources Council, Debra White Plume, and an Oglala Lakota nonprofit organization called Owe Aku.
Canadian-owned Crow Buttes Resources, Inc. (CBR) is asking the NRC for a permit to expand uranium mining in and around Petitioners’ towns, farms, and Indian territories. Petitioners assert that CBR’s process currently consumes and contaminates 4.7 billion gallons of water per year from the High Plains Aquifer which is also the water source to communities in eight western states. The petition (see http://www.bringbacktheway.com/ for text) challenges CBR’s request for an additional 2.4 billion gallons a year to expand its operations. CBR's application is made while drought is depleting the aquifers at 160% of recharge.

In addition to the use of additional valuable water resources, CBR has admitted to:
§ a spill of approximately 300,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste at its mine in Crawford , Nebraska ;
§ failure to clean up one-third of the spills equaling approximately 100,000 gallons of radioactive liquid waste;
§ admission that a broken coupling led to a one gallon per minute leak for several years into the Brule aquifer. It is believed that the leak resulted in toxic contamination of at least 525,000 gallons of water per year; and
§ admission of a leak that contaminated 25,000 sq. ft. of the Brule aquifer.
From existing operations, CBR has had no less than 23 reported leaks of radioactive material. Petitioners assert that this contradicts CBR’s statements that they have operated without any environmental impact and indicates that CBR should not be allowed to expand its existing operations. As one member of the Western Nebraska Resources Counsel stated, “In our book, you clean up your first mess before you are allowed the opportunity to create a new mess.”

Petitioners are asking the NRC for a chance to submit evidence that a slow-moving, underground radioactive plume of contaminated water is moving through several inter-connected aquifers. It is believed that CBRs admitted contamination of the aquifer “plumes” through the Arikaree, Brule and High Plains aquifers. CBR’s expansion application to the NRC states that the toxins that have leaked into the aquifers probably enter the human body through water as well as food sources exposed to the contamination. These toxins include Radon-222, Thorium, Uranium and inorganic Arsenic. As part of the application process, Petitioners seek an evaluation of CBR’s proposed expansion relative to the health and environment of people and wildlife relying on the aquifers. The Arikaree aquifer lies directly under the Oglala Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Petitioners believe there is a link between 98 wells that were closed on the Western side of the Reservation because of radioactive contamination and unusual incidences of cancer, kidney disease, birth defects, miscarriages and infant brain seizures.

Indigenous Petitioners from Native American communities also assert that the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples applies. Article 32 acknowledges that Indigenous peoples have a right to “free, prior and informed consent” with respect to development, utilization or exploitation of mineral resources. It further provides that “[s]tates shall provide effective mechanisms for just and fair redress for any such activities, and appropriate measures shall be taken to mitigate adverse environmental … impact.” To date, no opportunity has been provided for members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe or Native communities to analyze CBR’s License Amendment or its affect on Indigenous lands and resources. Petitioners stress that it would be entirely consistent with international human rights standards if the NRC affirms the Indigenous peoples’ right to intervene in the permit process for CBR’s application.

It is currently unknown when to expect a decision from the NRC.
Kent Lebsock
Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way)
International Justice & Human Rights Project
http://www.bringbacktheway.org/

Weekend in Solidarity with Political Prisoners

Saturday, December 1 & Sunday, December 2
Saturday, 12/1Jericho Boston Presents
The ShootoutPerformance artist, Jihad Abdul-Mumit will present The Shootout, a two-person theater performance and workshop. The Shootout is a two-man dramatization depicting the spiritual and psychological divisions that have historically ripped apart just about every semblance of unity amongst African Americans. The Shootout starts right from the beginning when Africans were snatched so violently and decisively from Mother Africa. The play speaks to the many problems people are confronted with. Among the root causes of violence in oppressed communities are economic exploitation, social underdevelopment and the colonial relationship between the community and those in power. CORI and other draconian laws have been passed to keep people marginalized and disenfranchised, while prison expansion cuts in education continue.
Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/11/weekend-in-solidarity-with-political.html

Border wall plans ignore environmental justice rules

BORDER WALL PLANS IGNORE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE RULES

By No Border Wall

RIO GRANDE, Texas -- In the recently released Rio Grande Valley Tactical Infrastructure Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Department of Homeland Security attempts to brush aside issues of environmental justice in its plans for the border wall. Although the Rio Grande Valley’s population is over 85% minority, and its border communities are some of the poorest in the nation, the EIS states that the impacts of the proposed border wall “would not fall disproportionately on minority or low-income populations.”
Read more ..
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/11/border-wall-plans-ignore-environmental.html

Sunset Water Ceremony Ballona Wetlands

Sunset Sacred Water Ceremony in Ballona Wetlands closes American Indian Heritage Month Closing Ceremony Friday, November 30, 2007
By Joanelle Romero
LOS ANGELES -- As the sun sets over the ocean on the last day of November, American Indian Heritage Month comes to a close. We will gather in sacred circle in the historic Ballona Wetlands Freshwater Marsh, the ancient burial grounds of our Gabrieleno, Tongva and Shoshone ancestors to hold a Respecting the Water of Life ceremony. In our ceremony, we will first honor our ancestors with drum and song. We will then cup water in our hands and receive its blessing. We whisper our intention over the water, including healing for contaminated waters around the globe. We also offer thanks for all the blessings, new connections and understandings we have received during our Heritage Month. We will release the water into the West, transmitting our vision of all peoples seeing the sacredness shining through all forms of life and finding connectedness across their diversity. We then will send this vision into the waters and across the sea. Our American Indian Heritage Month events, held throughout the City, honored American Indians as our nation's first environmentalists. The whole month of November was a call for American Indians to come out in pride and share the light of our traditions. All of our events served to inspire respect for Mother Earth and the balance of life. During this historic month in Los Angeles, in this important juncture in time, we shared our sacred ceremonies that attune us with Mother Earth. We also invited non-Natives to participate and experience the magic of these traditions with us.We are closing with the sacred water ceremony in prayer and respect for all the Ancestors who have come before us and have continued to inspire us to create a national healing of the Sacred Hoop of Life, which includes all colors, all relations, all peoples, plants, animals, water, the sun, the moon, star nations, thunder beings and our grandchildren’s grandchildren. The purpose of this sacred water ceremony and of American Indian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles is to encourage us to ask our selves profound questions: “What do we want to tell our grandchildren that we did to make a difference now? What commitment have you made? What pledge have you taken to heal our original Mother—the Earth?" The sun sets at 4:44 p.m. on November 30. Bring drums or rattles and tobacco or rose petals as an offering. Our Respecting the Water of Life Ceremony is open to the public.
Come join us. Everyone is welcome. Respecting the Water of Life Ceremony: Ballona Wetlands Fresh Water Marsh, Playa Vista area, Los Angeles 90293; Friday, November 30; 3:30 p.m arrival; ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.; free public event; [Directions: from Lincoln & Jefferson Blvd, go West on Jefferson (toward the ocean) to Culver Blvd. Make a U-turn at the light (at that point you will be heading East ). You will see cars and “Red Nation” banner on the right.]
Read more: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/11/american-indian-holocaust-tribute-in.html

US 'Nazi' law to suppress activists

Truthout:
HR 1955, "The Violent Radicalization Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007", apparently intended to assess "homegrown" terrorism threats and causes is on a fast-track through Congress. Proponents claim the bill would centralize information about the formation of domestic terrorists and would not impinge on constitutional rights.
On October 23, the bill passed the House of Representatives by a 404-6 margin with 23 members not voting. If passed in the Senate and signed into law by George W. Bush, the act would establish a ten-member National Commission on the Prevention of Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism, to study and propose legislation to address the threat of possible "radicalization" of people legally residing in the US.
Read more ...
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/112907J.shtml

Action alert: Western Shoshone's Sacred Mount Tenabo in danger

Western Shoshone Action Alert - Mt. Tenabo in Jeopardy
December 21st deadline for comments

Mt. Tenabo and the surrounding environs are again under attack from gold mining. It is critical now for the Bureau of Land Management to hear the strength of opposition for this mine; see talking points and how to send your comments and concerns below.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has released a draft Environmental Impact Statement, dEIS, which reviews the proposal by Cortez Gold Mines, a subsidiary of Barrrick Gold Mining Co., to conduct new gold mining operations at the south end of Crescent Valley in central Nevada. The Project, although termed as an “expansion” of the existing Pipeline and Cortez mines, is really a new gold mine complex. It would be located on the slopes of Mt. Tenabo, a mountain sacred to the Western Shoshone Indians, who have lived in the area since time immemorial. This mine would:Disturb (devastate) 6,792 acres of land, including a heap leach and waste rock facilities covering much of the Horse Canyon pass just south of Tenabo, and extending east into Grass ... Read more ...
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2007/11/action-alert-western-shoshones-sacred.html