nuclear-news

A German social analyst, Ulrich Beck has a remarkable critique of modern industrial society in his book Risk Society. Beck says that a risk society is one in which risks are readily produced by human action, are officially regarded as minor and are widely accepted by those affected. We live not only in a “toxic chemical soup” but in a true risk society. We have a perfect example of both at Rocky Flats. The main contaminant at Rocky Flats, eight miles south of Boulder on Colo. 93, is plutonium. You cannot taste, smell or see the tiny radioactive particles that remain in the soil and water of Rocky Flats even after the “clean up.” Most of the area, except for the still highly contaminated inner core of the property, has been released from the Department of Energy to the Department of Fish and Wildlife to be developed as a still contaminated recreation area for us and our children and our children’s children and which enhances the property value along the periphery of the area. Stay calm, public, nothing to worry about.

The Jefferson Parkway possibility enters the picture–a major highway intended to cut through the most contaminated eastern part of Rocky Flats. Imagine bulldozers plowing into plutonium contaminated soil, clouds of radioactive dust wafting over Denver and on out into the ether. These particles are so small and light they can float forever. One particle breathed in may produce cancer in the years to come for the unlucky breather.