It’s unbelievable that we have to protect one of America’s most precious national treasures – the Grand Canyon – from something as dangerous and destructive as radioactive uranium mining. But that’s exactly what we have to do right now.
Four years ago, a powerful grassroots coalition including Native American tribes, conservationists and CREDO activists came together and secured a moratorium on mining in the Grand Canyon watershed, a precious stretch of land containing ancient forests, unique wildlife, and a source of drinking water for millions.
But that moratorium is under constant threat by Republican lawmakers in Arizona, and it could easily be overturned by a Republican president with the stroke of a pen. Our best hope to make the moratorium permanent is to have President Obama declare the watershed a protected national monument. Let’s make sure 2016 is the year we permanently protect the Grand Canyon from uranium mining.
Tell President Obama: Protect the Grand Canyon from destructive uranium mining. Declare the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.
Uranium extraction is extremely lucrative, given its high price and the lack of stringent environmental standards that govern its mining. That’s why foreign-owned uranium mining companies from Canada and Russia won’t give up their plans to use American public lands for their own profits, while leaving a legacy of radioactive pollution for surrounding tribal communities and the Colorado River.
Numerous Native American tribes like the Navajo Nation, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Hopi consider this land to not only be their home, but also land that is sacred. It’s unconscionable that their own state leaders and elected officials would collude with foreign corporations to irreversibly pollute and destroy these lands.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s happening. Just this past September, Arizona’s attorney general joined surrounding states to challenge the moratorium and push to overturn it so that uranium mining could continue.
But a declaration from President Obama designating the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument could end all that, and would permanently protect this national treasure from greedy corporations and the right-wing politicians who work for them instead of the public good.
Sign the petition now and make sure President Obama makes this a priority before he leaves office.
Tell President Obama: Protect the Grand Canyon from destructive uranium mining. Declare the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.
Like this:
Like Loading...
About Mike Neuman
Identical twin; Long-time advocate of protection of our environment; Married; Father to three sons; Grandfather to one granddaughter; Born and raised in Wisconsin; Graduate of University of Wisconsin; post graduate degrees in agricultural economics and Water Resources Management fro UWMadison; Former School Crossing Guard for City of Madison; Bike to Work for 31 years with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Retired from DNR in 2007; Biked to school crossing guard site 2 X daily for 7 years retiring in 2019; in addition to being an advocate of safeguarding our environment, I am also an advocate for humane treatment of animal, children, and people in need of financial resource for humane living. I am presently a Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Madison, Wisconsin.
I oppose all long (>500 miles) distance travel (via fossil fuel burning) for nonessential purposes and all ownership of more than one home.
I am opposed to militarism in any form particularly for the purpose of monetary gain.
I am a Strong believer in people everywhere having the right to speak their minds openly, without any fear of reprisal, regarding any concerns; especially against those in authority who are not acting for the public good?in a timely fashion and in all countries of the world not just the U S..
My identical twin, Pat, died in June 2009.
He was fired from his job with the National Weather Service despite having a long and successful career as a flood forecaster with the Kansas City National Weather Service. He took a new position in the Midwest Regional Office in Minneapolis.
Unfortunately, Pat’s work for the NWS went sour after he began to see the evidence for concern about rising global temperatures shortly after relocating to Minneapolis, and how they appeared to effect of flooding on the Red River that flows out of Canada before entering the U.S. in North Dakota.
. Pat and I conversed on a regular basis with other scientists on the Yahoo Group named “Climate Concern “ and by personal email. The NWS denied his recommendation to give his public presentation o n his research at the “Minneapolis Mall of America” in February 2000, which deeply affected h,im. I will h He strongly believed the information ought be shared with the public to which I concurred. That was the beginning of the vendetta against my brother, Patrick J. Neuman, for speaking strongly of the obligations the federal government was responsible for accurately informing the citizenry.
A way great similar response to my raising the issue of too many greenhouse gases being emitted by drivers of vehicles on Wisconsin highway system, my immediate supervisors directed: “that neither global warming, climate change nor the long term impacts upon the natural resources of Wisconsin from expansion of the state highway system were to be any part of my job requirements, and that I must not communicate, nor in a memorandum to all the bureau, shall any person who works in the same bureau I do communicate with me, neither verbally on the phone, by email.
All Things Environmental 
Recent Comments