Thursday, July 12, 2012

Unofficial meeting on uranium ban in Pittsylvania breathes life into the democratic process


On Monday in Pittsylvania County[1], residents took part in an unofficial board of supervisors’ forum to gain resident input on uranium mining and the possibility of lifting Virginia’s decade’s old ban on uranium mining in Virginia.[2]

The forum was organized and presided over by Supervisors Marshall Ecker and Jessie Barksdale. At least 100 residents of Pittsylvania County collected in the courtroom to let the board of supervisors know their opinion on lifting Virginia’s ban on uranium mining[3].

According to GoDanRiver,[4] close to two-thirds of the residents who attended disapproved of lifting the uranium mining ban while a third were in favor of the lift. The results were drawn based upon the number of attendees applauding the various speakers at the forum. 

Residents opposed to uranium mining sited concerns ranging from anxieties regarding water quality, property values, businesses uprooting from the county, and an overall degradation of quality of life.

The importance of the unofficial uranium mining meeting really can’t be overstated. The forum constituted a much needed medium for the residents of Pittsylvania County to state their views on lifting the uranium mining ban in Virginia. Since these individuals will be the most directly affected by such a move, they are logically the ones who should be listened to the closest.

Up till the present however, it hasn’t seemed like the opinions of Pittsylvania County residents have been given the attention or policy weight they warrant by the McDonnell administration or the Virginia General Assembly. With hoards of pro-mining lobbyists lining the halls of Capitol Square[5], it’s little wonder that Pittsylvania County residents have had such difficulty getting their government to listen to their opinions and concerns.

Since these Virginians stand to lose the most from uranium mining in their communities, it is them who relevant Virginia public officials should truly be listening to. Even though the forum on Monday was unofficial, the fact that the forum was held was a recognition by leaders in Pittsylvania County that residents are still anxious to make their worries and views heard.

The forum on Monday was also a step in the right direction in a state founded upon democratic principles. 

The people of Pittsylvania County have the right to decide their own fate; that’s the democratic way.
Till this point in time, the McDonnell administration in particular has not lived up to these democratic principles when it comes to the issue of uranium mining.[6]


[1] http://www.pittgov.org/
[2] http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/jul/09/uranium-forum-draw-crowd-pittsylvania-county-ar-2045231/
[3] http://www.southernenvironment.org/cases/uranium_mining_in_virginia/
[4] http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2012/jul/09/uranium-forum-draw-crowd-pittsylvania-county-ar-2045231/
[5] http://www.vacapitol.org/square.htm
[6] http://www.examiner.com/article/mcdonnell-s-uranium-mining-study-a-subversion-of-the-democratic-process-virgi

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