Finally they tells us...It's meltdown in Japan....

So Japan is now going to switch to wind power for it's future energy needs....

Virginia needs to wake up and keep the ban on uranium mining.

We can take advantage of our incredible wind resources off our coast that are safe and won't end up killing us.

Plus wind will bring more jobs to Virginia without the billion dollar clean up bill.

Contact your state delegate and state senator today. Tell them to stop the nuclear madness and keep the ban!!

Uranium threatens the Roanoke River

Uranium mining is so dangerous that you don't have to actually do it to have an important tributary placed on the top ten list of America's most endangered river. Virginian's need to rise up quickly to protect our families, communities and state.

This is truly nuclear madness!

KEEP THE BAN COALITION NEWS

For Immediate Release
May 12, 2011 (corrected May 17, 2011)

Coalition to Keep the Ban on Uranium Mining in Virginia Growing Statewide

Coalition announces dozens of supporting localities and groups, launches petition drive and website

Contact:

Cale Jaffe, Southern Environmental Law Center, 434-977-4090

Mary Rafferty, Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, 804-225-9113, ext 105

Naomi Hodge-Muse, President of the Martinsville/Henry County NAACP, 276-632-9674

RICHMOND, VA – The Keep the Ban Coalition today announced 41 localities and organizations that have taken action—writing letters, adopting resolutions, etc.—that support keeping in place the state’s longstanding ban on uranium mining. This is evidence of a growing statewide movement. Local governments that have passed resolutions or otherwise taken action include the City of Virginia Beach, and civic groups include the Reston-based National Wildlife Federation, whose membership passed a national resolution of support in April.

The coalition today also launched a statewide petition drive, starting with 1,000 signatures of Virginians who support keeping the ban on uranium mining, and launched a new website, www.keeptheban.org, aimed at raising awareness of the health, environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with uranium mining, milling and waste disposal. Uranium has never been mined commercially in the East, nor in a predominantly wet-climate region of the U.S., like Virginia.

“Virginia has had a ban in place on mining uranium for nearly 30 years, and for good reason,” said Naomi Hodge-Muse, president of the Martinsville-Henry County NAACP and leader of the Sierra Club Keep the Ban Team, Martinsville. “There are just too many questions and potential risks of radioactive and toxic materials contaminating our streams, rivers and drinking water. With all the storms and hurricanes we get, this is the worst possible place you could put a uranium operation.”

The uranium industry is lobbying to lift the ban and begin mining uranium in Virginia, starting at a major deposit at a Pittsylvania County site called Coles Hill, first discovered in the late 1970s. The industry also secured leases on other suspected deposits in Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Henry, Madison, Orange, Patrick, and Pittsylvania counties. Potential uranium deposits were also detected in Franklin and Nelson counties. Recently, Virginia Uranium, Inc. told Wall Street investors that it plans to introduce legislation lifting the uranium mining ban in the 2012 session of the General Assembly.

Coalition partners note the well-documented links between exposure to uranium waste and myriad health problems, including bone, liver and breast cancer, lung and kidney diseases, and birth defects. Another concern is the severity and frequency of storms in the region, which could damage uranium facilities and potentially wash contaminated storm water and uranium waste into nearby water resources. In the last 40 years, nine hurricanes and countless other major storms have deluged Virginia. In 1969, Hurricane Camille dumped 31 inches of rain on central Virginia. This April, at least 30 tornadoes were recorded in Virginia, including one in Halifax County about 20 miles from the Coles Hill site.

Virginia Beach, which gets its drinking water from Lake Gaston, downstream of the Coles Hill site, recently released the findings of its $437,000 study which concluded that a catastrophic failure of a uranium waste containment structure at the site could contaminate the city’s drinking water for as long as two years. Roughly 1.2 million people in Virginia and North Carolina rely on the Roanoke River system downstream of the Coles Hill site for drinking water.

Mary Rafferty with the Sierra Club’s Virginia Chapter said that nine local groups have formed around the state in recent months to campaign for keeping the ban on uranium mining in Virginia (see list below).

“I’m fielding calls every week from concerned citizens across the state with requests for more information and for ways to get more involved. Mining proponents think this issue will be won behind closed doors in Richmond, but the people of Virginia are demanding it be debated in town halls and onfront porches,” said Rafferty.

“If the ban is lifted, it will be lifted statewide, which means Virginians throughout the state could potentially be affected by uranium mining, milling and waste disposal in their communities, or miles upstream,” said Cale Jaffe, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

The coalition website is designed to educate the public on the risks posed by lifting the ban on uranium mining, milling and waste disposal in Virginia. The site has fact sheets and press coverage on the issue, and visitors can sign a petition in favor of the ban and join a local volunteer group.

Government entities that have taken action related to keeping the ban within the last four years

City of Creedmor, NC

City of Henderson, NC

City of Virginia Beach, VA

Floyd County, VA

Halifax County, NC

Granville County, NC

Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments

Mecklenburg County, VA

Orange County, VA

Rappahannock County, VA

Town of Halifax, VA

Town of Hurt, VA

Town of Franklinton, NC

Town of Warrenton, NC

Vance County, NC

Warren County, NC

Organizations in support of the ban that are not members of the Keep the Ban Coalition

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

- Piedmont Residents in Defense of the Environment (PRIDE)

Buggs Island Striper Club

Halifax County Chamber of Commerce (VA)

Martinsville-Henry County Chapter of the NAACP

National Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee

North Carolina Wildlife Federation

Southside Concerned Citizens

Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts

Volunteer groups organized with assistance from the Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter:

- Keep the Ban, Chesapeake

- Keep the Ban, Norfolk

- UBAN, Floyd County (VA)

- Roanoke Group of the Sierra Club

- Sierra Club Keep the Ban Team, Martinsville

Members of the Keep the Ban Coalition

Dan River Basin Association

League of Individuals for the Environment, Inc.

Roanoke River Basin Association

Piedmont Environmental Council

Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project

Southern Environmental Law Center

Virginia Bass Federation

Virginia Conservation Network

Virginia League of Conservation Voters

Floyd County Virginia opposes Uranium Mining in Virginia

RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO LIFTINGTHE BAN ON URANIUM MINING IN VIRGINIA

WHEREAS, in 1983 the Virginia General Assembly enacted a moratorium on the mining
of uranium in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, presently a company know as Virginia Uranium, Inc. has proposed
establishing one of the largest uranium mining operations in North America within the
State of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, presently Virginia Uranium, Inc. is undertaking an extensive lobbying
campaign directed at getting the Virginia General Assembly to lift the moratorium
established in 1983, thereby allowing the company to begin mining operations; and

WHEREAS, it is probable that the mining operations proposed by Virginia Uranium, Inc.
will result in large quantities of highly mobile, radioactive mill tailings, which must be
stored as sludge in ponds, and eventually in dewatered tailings piles that can retain 85
percent of their original radioactivity for hundreds of thousands of years; and

WHEREAS, it is possible that sludge ponds and/or tailings pile confinement structures
could fail, resulting in the release of radioactive materials into surface waters and the
surrounding environment; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s climate includes frequent storms capable
of producing surface water conditions that will transport and disperse radioactive
materials downstream and away from the site of the mining and related storage of
byproduct; and,

WHEREAS, it is probable that the negative environmental, health, and economic impacts
of a release of radioactive materials could result in catastrophic harm to a portion of the
of the Commonwealth’s land area.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Floyd County Board of Supervisors,
that it does hereby oppose lifting the ban on uranium mining unless and until it can be
scientifically demonstrated with a high level of certainty that no release of radioactive
materials can escape from any proposed uranium mining operation and/or location.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to each member of
the County’s legislative delegations and to the Chair of all groups currently studying
uranium mining in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Adopted by the Floyd County Board of Supervisors on the 12
the day of April, 2011.

Nuclear is the worst investment for jobs

According to this study taxpayer dollars should NOT be diverted to nuclear technology since it has the worst record for jobs creation. Agriculture, water infrastructure, solar, wind, smart grid, roads and bridges repair, livestock, crop agriculture provide more jobs per dollar.

In addition the corporate generated myth of nuclear as clean energy is now being exposed as a big lie with the most recent disaster in Japan.

In this age of terrorism we need safe, clean, sustainable energy--let's invest in the technology of the future and create more jobs per dollar with wind, solar, biomass and let the private investors do nuclear if they so desire but without the taxpayer funded corporate welfare.

Solar energy is CHEAPER than nuclear (and will continue to grow cheaper than nuclear over time) and it creates more jobs.
Contact your state and federal officials and tell them NO taxpayer bailout for nuclear profiteers. We need value for our tax dollars...end the government bailouts for corporate profiteers!

Water Story

Virginia needs more tax money. Our greatest resource is our water.

Why not have a bottle deposit to protect our water and use this money for protecting our water and our environment?

And while you are thinking about water....remember we need to protect our water.

Support Virginia's moratorium on uranium mining.

Radiation is Dangerous...

With anti-uranium moratorium lobbyists visiting our elected officials in Richmond to hurry up and lift our uranium moratorium whose side do you think our state government is on....the few folks who want to get rich off uranium mining or the people of Virginia who will bear the consequences? Don't forget to ask who is filling their campaign coffers.

I contend Virginia will lose more jobs than are gained from this insane idea to make Virginia the first wet climate to mine uranium.

Folks in Arizona just beat back the uranium mining interests...they know better than to trust this industry.

Remember uranium is dangerous....radiation is dangerous. Go on facebook and friend Uranium Free Virginia. Research this for yourself...give your insurance company a call...they won't insure your home or property for any damages from this venture.

Knowledge is power. Educate yourself then spread the word.

Can't trust Big Corps....

Look how BP was able to cover up their oil....will anyone make them clean up their mess?

IF the USA can't make BP clean up their mess how is Virginia going to regulate dangerous uranium mining?

Will Virginia become a sacrifice zone?

I'm starting to understand why the places where uranium is mined are called sacrifice zones or dead zones. There are no regulation concerning the radioactive waste and how it should be handled. This is shocking. No wonder they have a history of mining in desert areas that are sparsely populated.

Virginia is not set up for Uranium Mining.

Think about it....the issue is NOT jobs. That's the camouflage to put everyone at risk so a "Few" can make billions and leave the rest of us with the clean up bills.

If the US government can't control the corporations that are destroying our environment the how can Virginia's state government even hope to regulate the uranium interests?

Watch out for robo call Lies about Uranium Mining in VA

Residents in Southside and South Central Virginia have been receiving automated message calls fromAmericans for Prosperity. The calls originated from AFP's Richmond office. AFP claimed that Virginia Uranium, Inc.'s dangerous project will generate up to 500 jobs. It is a LIE.
According to the Energy Informaion Administration, in 2009, the entire uranium production industry employed 1,096 people.
In the same year, there were 20 operating mines in the U.S. and one operating and one developing mill. No single mining and milling operation can employ one half of the number of employees being currently employed by 22 uranium production operations.

MORE JOBS LESS EVIRONMENTAL RISK

This is what Governor McDonnell should be supporting. We don't need off shore drilling. We need wind power.

Contact the Governor and let him know we want off shore Wind NOT Oil Drilling.

Carry me back to ole Virginia....

"Some Virginians advocate letting the corporations control our essential needs and resources. Are these folks yearning for the good old days when corporations used to lock workers in the factories for the day (who needs stuff like unlocked exit doors with fire signs on them)? While we're at it let's get rid of those laws that prevent children from working in those factories. We can lower our taxes by not providing education to the children. In these economic times let's put those children to work in factories or farm fields. Oh no, the corporations have moved the factories overseas....go figure.

Ah...the good ole days are coming back. The mindset of let's kill the government and let the corporations take over. "Some would say" that "some" Virginians are watching too much Fox News. We can depend on Fox News to scare the government right out of you.

Governor's Proclamation Declaring Sept 21 a Day of Peace

SPECIAL NOTE: State Delegate Algie Howell of District 90 will read the Governor's Proclamation during the 3rd Annual United Nations International Day of Peace Interfaith Service. See the post below this one for more info.

Gaming Granny

So do we have any Gaming Grannies in Virginia who are willing to shout out their favorite games?

Virgil H. Goode is still on the hook

Virginia's Virgil H. Goode remains in the news. The Baltimore Sun has an excellent piece discussing Goode's shameful and ignorant hate speech during a season that is supposed to represent peace on earth. I've already posted my thoughts of Virgil Goode here.

Mac followed up with a nice piece on misconceptions about Islam.

All of Virginia's elected officials should be speaking out on this issue. Many Virginian bloggers are promoting that Goode's hate speech is not typical of Virginians. However, the silence of our elected officials on this issue sends a different message--agreement with the bigotry Goode is promoting.

We should not let our elected officials "off the hook" so easily. They should clear the air and have the courage to verbalize their positions on this crucial issue.

Virginia's Word

First there was George Allen and the macaca incident. Allen's use of a racial epithet from his mother's native land and his subsequent explanations garnered so much attention that "macaca" is becoming a new, widely used word in American English.

Now a new "macaca" moment comes from the mouth of another right wing Virginian Republican, Virgil Goode (R-VA-5th). The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Goode's "ignorant and divisive statements " and called on him to apologize. As if this writing, Goode has issued no apology.

I love my home state. However, recent bigotry is not the sole domain of a few right wing Virginian Republicans. In the midterm elections, Virginians voted to enshrine Jim Crow into our state constitution. As a young girl I have memories of living in a Jim Crow state. Things were separate, but definitely not equal.

Bigotry is bigotry. Elected officials such as George Allen and Virgil Goode, and the passage of the marriage amendment indicates that VA has more than it's fair share of racists, bigots and homophobes. I don't seem to have a case to present in defending my home state of VA against these charges of racism and bigotry.

I suggest that my home state adopt a new state symbol to recognize and "honor" the power and the influence of right wing extremists in our state.

We have a eleven state symbols (not counting our flag and various seals). These symbols include a state boat (Chesapeake Bay deadrise), a dog (American Fox Hound), and a state bird (red cardinal). So why not a state word? And a state word from George Allen, a state politician the corporate media describes as "very popular," seems appropriate.

Why not enshrine Macaca as Virginia’s state word?

Buzz...Buzz...