Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive li

Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive li

Postby Oscar » Wed Feb 22, 2017 5:17 pm

Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River

[ http://www.kahnawake.com/news/pr/pr02222017a.pdf ]

February 22, 2017

The Iroquois Caucus announced today that it is unanimously condemning a plan to truck 23,000 liters of highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario across the International border to the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, using public roads and bridges.

This unprecedented action could have a devastating impact on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River ecosystem. Depending on the route(s) chosen, there is the potential for a spill or spills into waterways flowing into the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River or one of their many tributaries.

This ecosystem provides drinking water for an estimated 40 million people on both sides of the border.

“We have stated clearly in the past that we will not stand idly by,” stated Chief Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte. “The seven communities of the Iroquois Caucus stand together in the protection of Mother Earth.”

“It is appalling that such reckless and irresponsible plans are given approval by the regulators and the Courts when far more sensible solutions are at hand,” added Kanesatake Grand Chief Serge Simon.

“The Iroquois Caucus is well aware that liquid of a very similar nature has been routinely solidified and stored at Chalk River since 2003,” explained Kahnawà:ke Grand Chief Joseph Tokwiro Norton. “There are processes already in existence to ‘down-blend’ the liquid in order to eliminate highly-enriched uranium by converting it into low-enriched uranium.”

“We strongly encourage that all persons, communities and organizations that share our concerns stand together to ensure that common sense prevails,” concluded Akwesasne Grand Chief Abram Benedict. “There is no reason to continue with a plan that puts 40 million people at risk when alternatives readily exist.”

The Iroquois Caucus consists of elected Councils from Akwesasne, Kahnawà:ke, Kanesatake, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (Tyendinaga), Oneida Nation of the Thames, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Wahta Mohawks. -30-

Contact:

Trevor Bomberry, Coordinator, Iroquois Caucus ,
519-761-7694, ic.coordinator@sixnations.ca

Joe Delaronde, Political Press Attaché, Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke
450-632-7500, joe.delaronde@mck.ca
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Re: Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactiv

Postby Oscar » Wed Feb 22, 2017 5:20 pm

First Nations oppose trucking of nuke material

[ http://www.parrysound.com/news-story/71 ... -material/ ]

February 22, 2017

A group representing seven First Nations in Ontario and Quebec says it's opposed to a plan to truck highly radioactive liquid from the Chalk River Laboratories in Deep River, Ont., to a site in the United States.

In a statement Wednesday, the Iroquois Caucus condemned the plan to transport 23,000 litres of the material from the facility northwest of Ottawa, across the border to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, using public roads and bridges.

It says, depending on the route or routes chosen, there is the potential for a devastating spill or spills into waterways flowing into the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River or one of their many tributaries.

The ecosystem provides drinking water for an estimated 40 million people on both sides of the border.

MORE:

[ http://www.parrysound.com/news-story/71 ... -material/ ]
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Re: Iroquois Caucus condemns plan to truck highly radioactiv

Postby Oscar » Wed Feb 22, 2017 5:27 pm

Anishinabek stand with Iroquois Caucus condemning radioactive shipping across Anishinabek and Iroquois Territories

[ http://anishinabeknews.ca/2017/02/22/an ... rritories/ ]

UOI OFFICES (February 22, 2017) – Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says that the Anishinabek Nation is standing with the Iroquois Caucus opposing the transporting of radioactive liquid through Anishinabek Nation and Iroquois Territories.

“We assert inherent ownership of the water and jurisdiction within our regions and traditional territories,” says the Grand Council Chief of 40 Anishinabek First Nations. “We will stand with our Iroquois allies to protect the drinking water. Water is the lifeblood of Mother Earth. Why would we put our precious resource in jeopardy? A spill into any of the waterways would have a tremendous impact on the Great Lakes. Millions of people would be affected – on both sides of the border.”

The transport of radioactive liquid waste could pose substantial threats to the environmental and human health as hazardous materials and waste cannot be disposed of by common means. It has the potential to cause contamination to the largest fresh water supply in the world which provides drinking water to approximately 40 million people.

The plan is to truck 23,000 litres of highly radioactive liquid from Chalk River, Ontario across the international border to the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, using public roads and bridges.

In 2010, Anishinabek Chiefs in Assembly passed resolutions opposing the exporting and storage of nuclear waste across the Anishinabek Nation to other provinces or countries by either land or water.

Anishinabek First Nations are the caretakers of the land, water air and resources within our regions and traditional territories.

“Our water technicians will be monitoring this development closely as the Great Lakes water quality is so critical to the Anishinabek Nation. Transporting nuclear waste poses too much risk,” says Madahbee.

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – to which Canada is signatory – States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent.

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 40 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 60,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

-30-

For more information contact:

Marci Becking, Communications Officer
705.497.9127 ext. 2290
Email : marci.becking@anishinabek.ca
http://www.anishinabek.ca
http://www.anishinabeknews.ca
http://www.sayyestoaes.ca

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Marci Becking
Union of Ontario Indians Communications Officer
Managing Editor of http://www.anishinabeknews.ca
705-497-9127 ext. 2290
marci.becking@anishinabek.ca
http://www.anishinabek.ca
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