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Uranium – a blessing or a curse?

Uranium – a blessing or a curse?
Marketplace Herbert Jauch 5 Dec 08 “………………….. Following the release of a uranium study by the director of the Labour Resource and Research Institute, Hilma Shindondola-Mote, earlier this year, mineworkers and environmental organisations have raised concerns.At the heart of the dispute is whether a mushrooming uranium mining industry is a curse or a blessing for Namibia………………………..

Exposure to even relatively low levels of radiation over a long period can be extremely harmful to the health of workers and communities living around uranium mines.

Several workers who spent long years working at uranium mines developed serious health problems.

Cancerous strains are commonplace as workers are exposed to dust and radon gas daily and thus develop diseases such as TB and lung cancer.

Although mining companies usually deny any responsibility and refuse to compensate workers, there is increasing evidence of a link between uranium mining and workers’ health problems.

Uranium mining uses an enormous amount of water.

In a recent article in The Namibian, the writer pointed out that the proposed uranium mine by the Canadian company Forsys Metal, would use 1 million litres of water each day……………….

Situated on the Valencia farm in the Erongo region, the mine would consume in only three months the amount of water that the current users in the area would consume in 36 years.

Given that all existing and envisaged uranium mines are in the Namib desert, one needs to ask if it is wise to spend Namibia’s most scarce resource – water – on mining operations that may only bring short-term benefits.

All existing and proposed uranium mining sites are in the Namib desert, mostly in the protected area of the Namib Naukluft Park.

Besides using huge amounts of water, uranium mining also leaves large craters as it relies on open-pit operations.

Once mining activities cease, the huge holes remain.

Furthermore, radioactive dust particles may be blown over many kilometres.

This brings mining into direct conflict with tourism ventures that rely on Namibia’s natural beauty as a main attraction.

Uranium – a blessing or a curse?

December 6, 2008 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment