Left in the Dust - uranium mining in Niger

[Fledermaus]

May 6, 2010
Uranium mines in Niger operated by the state-owned French nuclear giant AREVA continue to create a radioactive hazard for the people living nearby. A new report released today by Greenpeace reveals contamination levels in the air, water and soil above internationally accepted limits.

“Radioactivity increases poverty because it creates more victims. With each day passes we are exposed to radiation and continue to be surrounded by poisoned air, polluted water and earth – while AREVA makes hundreds of millions from our natural resources.” said Almoustapha Alhacen, President of the local Nigerian NGO Aghir in’ Man (which means “the shield of the soul” in the Touareg language, is a local environmental and human rights organization).

Last November, Greenpeace carried out soil, water and air tests in Arlit and Akokan, located a few kilometers from the mines. The samples were studied in collaboration with the France-based Research and Independent Information on Radioactivity Commission (CRIIRAD).

“The analysis we have performed show that the uranium contamination in four out of five water samples exceed World Health Organisation safety limits*. We found evidence of radon, a radioactive gas dissolved in water and also chemical elements. Even so, this water is still being distributed to the population and the workers for consumption” said Bruno Chareyron, an engineer in Nuclear Physics from CRIIRAD.

YOUTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioRtzOWm07A&feature=related


http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/left-in-the-dust-arevas-uranium-mining-in-nig/blog/11734

[Fledermaus]

1. Kinda looks like the French nuclear industry stands on the backs of poor black people.

[madokie]

2. Here in the states one has to look no further than the native Americans

What the nuclear industry has done to the Navajo

[Fledermaus]

3. but, but,...the nuclear industy shit dosn't stink!

[madokie]

4. I guess some like the smell

so it begs the question. If you like the smell of something does it stink to others? I say yes in this case it does.

I think I already rec'd this and if not I will now :-)

[jpak]

6. Hey, how many hectares are covered with that stuff? More than 4????

n/t

[The Croquist]

8. It's not the nuclear industry per se

It's poverty and corruption. The government of Niger is desperate for money.

Stats from:

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ng.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Niger

They have a per capita GDP of $700.00 making them 225 out of 230 in the world and the fastest growing population by percentage (3.66%). Their chief exports are uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas and onions with 72% of their exports being uranium. Believe it or not the government is corrupt. The citizens of Niger aren't as important to the government of Niger as the revenue from the Uranium.

If they had oil they'd let the oil companies pollute. If they had a market for child prostitution they'd be only too happy to let the perverts in. They don't care.

Their government has signed international agreements on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection and Wetlands. Does it look to you like they are honoring these agreements?

[jpak]

5. Dick Cheney sez we should emulate France's nucular power industry

Which means we should adopt racist neocolonialism as a national policy and exploit developing nations for our reactor fuel

and leave them in wreck and ruin while we prosper in our "clean and green" nucular paradise.

yup!

[Nihil]

7. You already do ...

> Which means we should adopt racist neocolonialism as a national policy and
> exploit developing nations for our reactor fossil fuel
> and leave them in wreck and ruin while we prosper in our "clean and green"
> nucular coal & oil-fired paradise.

There ... fixed it for you ...

"Yup!"