MISSION: Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations.

Voices from the Earth: Current Issue

SRIC Friends

Table of
Contents

Uranium...the problems continue
Voting: Why It Is So Important
Listening Sessions Highlight Environmental Justice
Just Say "NO!" (Again) to High-Level Waste at WIPP
Reclaiming the Land: History of Uranium Mill Tailings Clean-up
Mitchell Capitan & Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining Take Their Message to the International Stage
Karamken: An Abandoned Gold Facility Shows Need for Reclamation in Russia
Harris Arthur is SRIC's New Navajo Community Liason
Book Reviews
SRIC Extras

Some people in the community were behind mining, [they] thought, mining is good for money. Some Navajo families were compensated for [past] mining on their lands. They were rich for a while. But it seems like to Navajos or native people, it's not good for us. As of today, I've seen these families suffer; many are gone from alcoholism, and [many] didn't spend the money in the right way. There's nothing there, now they're suffering again. This is almost where we're headed again. In the long run, I think it's not made for the native people to be so rich off the Earth. Uranium mining, it's like it's an omen.

Mitchell Capitan, founder
Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining

 
SRIC Extras

2004 Central & Northern New Mexico Combined Federal Campaign

It's that time of year again. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) will have two Kick off events - one on September 21st at the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Albuquerque (also known as the VA Medical Center), the second on September 28th on the Kirtland Air Force Base. We would like to invite all interested individuals to attend one of these events to learn more about our programs.

The Veterans Affairs Kick off site is at the same place as last year - go through the Gibson/San Mateo gate to the grassy courtyard just west of the main hospital building. The time is noon - 3:00 PM. This event is open to all federal employees in the Central and Northern New Mexico CFC area.

The Kirtland event will be at the Rio Grande Community Center located on the Kirtland Air Force Base on the corner of Texas Street and G Avenue. Time is from 11 AM - 1 PM, with lunch provided by the Kirtland CFC organizing team. This Kick off event is specifically for Department of Defense and Department of Energy employees working at Kirtland Air Force Base.

If you cannot attend either of these events, but are interesting in pledging to Southwest Research and Information Center during the campaign, please note that our CFC code remains the same: 7067.

Public Hearing To Determine Fate of Toxic Waste Dump

An estimated 100,000 cubic ft. of radioactive and hazardous waste sits in shallow, unlined pits and trenches at Sandia National Laboratories, above Albuquerque's sole source water supply. The dump is located on the East Mesa next to the planned Mesa del Sol development. There are schools nearby that are not far from the site.

Sandia and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed plan is to leave the waste in place, cover the dump with dirt, put signs and fences up around it, and use the land for industrial purposes to limit people's exposure to the waste and prevent excess cancer risk. Due to the types and volumes of waste, the landfill will remain hazardous essentially forever.

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has issued a draft permit modification that gives initial approval of Sandia/DOE's plan. Please join efforts in telling the NMED that the Mixed Waste Landfill needs to be cleaned up to guarantee protection of our aquifer, our environment and the health of nearby communities over the long-term.

A public hearing for the Mixed Waste Landfill will be held on December 2, 2004, 9 a.m., at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, 2500 Carlisle Blvd. NE, Albuquerque. For more information call Citizen Action at (505) 280-1844 or www.radfreenm.org

Southwest Research and Information Center is a multi-cultural organization working to promote the health of people and communities, protect natural resources, ensure citizen participation, and secure environmental and social justice now and for future generations.

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SRIC
Southwest Research and Information Center
105 Stanford SE
PO Box 4524
Albuquerque, NM 87196
505/262-1862
fax: 505/262-1864

For further information contact Info@sric.org.