http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/anne-sayers-mining-bill-puts-public-health-at-risk/article_dc68ad22-8824-11e2-8e60-001a4bcf887a.html
Mining bill puts public health at risk.
By Anne Sayers
"The open-pit mining bill gives the mining industry special exemptions from environmental and public health protections- protections that other industries must follow. In fact, the bill explicitly states that groundwater contamination by mining companies is acceptable."
Sayers' column for The Cap Times takes the time to pencil out the public health ramifications brought on by the ignorant, shameless passing of AB 426 in Wisconsin. She alerts readers that may not already be aware that this mine will put toxic material directly into our air as well as our water. The article defines for us both the specific chemicals, as well as the science behind how it ends up in the air and water, as well as the effect it will have on the human body. Diseases such as Mesothelioma, neurological disorders in adults, and developmental disabilities in fetuses, infants, and children.
Many rhetoricians have placed the focus on money, soverign nations, and also the environment, regarding the bill, but Sayers article might be more effective, placing the idea of our children becoming sick because of the mine. This bill is disturbing and disgusting, and I can't believe the offer is still on the table. Maybe the zombie apocalypse will begin right here in Wisconsin, after we all get mercury poisoning.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Dan Millis Article Summary #5
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/al-gedicks-wisconsin-is-testing-ground-for-mining-industry-response/article_d456bb28-8695-11e2-9195-0019bb2963f4.html
Al Gedicks: Wisconsin is testing ground for mining industry responses to opposition
In 1998 EXXON lost its battle with Mole Lake Ojibwe over the Crandon project, a sulfide mine operation threatening Wisconsin beginning in 1975. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crandon_mine)
This operation was set to destroy the headwaters of the Wolf River, but this "Prove it First" Mining Moratorium Law shut the operation down.
"Veterans of the Crandon mine battle were among those who mobilized public opinion against GogebicTaconite's proposal for a giant open-pit iron mine i the headwaters of the Bad River watershed..." This grass-roots movement has shut down many other mining proposals, so shouldn't we feel optimistic about it shutting down GTac, too?
"To counter growing opposition, GTac wrote a 206-page iron mining bill that not only exempts it from important environmental safeguards, such as prove it is safe first, but applies lessons the industry has learned from the Crandon mine defeat to the Penokee Hills strip mine project..."
This bill written by GTac gives only what they want the public toknow about their operation, and also gives the DNR very little to work with as well. Why would we trust a company that writes their own lawn to protect themselves? It makes no sense to me how something this obviously evil could ever be seen as something good for this state. Are we in need of jobs this badly. I only see this as a sure thing to destroy our wetlands and to be a cancer for this states environmental health. Lets all hope the movement that sent EXXON running for the hills can do so yet again before this evil empire can snake into our state and poinson our land.
Al Gedicks: Wisconsin is testing ground for mining industry responses to opposition
In 1998 EXXON lost its battle with Mole Lake Ojibwe over the Crandon project, a sulfide mine operation threatening Wisconsin beginning in 1975. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crandon_mine)
This operation was set to destroy the headwaters of the Wolf River, but this "Prove it First" Mining Moratorium Law shut the operation down.
"Veterans of the Crandon mine battle were among those who mobilized public opinion against GogebicTaconite's proposal for a giant open-pit iron mine i the headwaters of the Bad River watershed..." This grass-roots movement has shut down many other mining proposals, so shouldn't we feel optimistic about it shutting down GTac, too?
"To counter growing opposition, GTac wrote a 206-page iron mining bill that not only exempts it from important environmental safeguards, such as prove it is safe first, but applies lessons the industry has learned from the Crandon mine defeat to the Penokee Hills strip mine project..."
This bill written by GTac gives only what they want the public toknow about their operation, and also gives the DNR very little to work with as well. Why would we trust a company that writes their own lawn to protect themselves? It makes no sense to me how something this obviously evil could ever be seen as something good for this state. Are we in need of jobs this badly. I only see this as a sure thing to destroy our wetlands and to be a cancer for this states environmental health. Lets all hope the movement that sent EXXON running for the hills can do so yet again before this evil empire can snake into our state and poinson our land.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Dan Millis Article Summary Post #4
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20130303/GPG0602/303030147/Editorial-Process-writing-mining-legislation-flawed
Process of Writing Mining Legislation Flawed
Editorial- Green Bay Press Gazette
Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Polpar, hit the nail on the head when he said "Our job is not to be Santa Clause to a mining company and the Scrooge to the taxpayers of Wisconsin." We live in a state where the Republicans hold the majority, and with Republicans nearsighted solely on Bill 426 it's seems that they have one goal for this term; to wrecklessly disregard the environment and human life and turn Northern Wisconsin into a pit mine.
The editorial says, "It's been reported that Goebic Taconie called for modifications in the bill before it was even heard. For example, altering the recycling fee for waste rock from $7.03 per ton to 2.7 cents a ton benefits the mining company. That is estimated to cost the state's recycling and environmental programs $172 million a year." Special interests have plagued the Walker reign in Wisconsin, and this is another dispicable example of Big Business controlling our government. These decisions are mind boggling, and unfortunately not surprising one bit.
Process of Writing Mining Legislation Flawed
Editorial- Green Bay Press Gazette
Sen. Robert Jauch, D-Polpar, hit the nail on the head when he said "Our job is not to be Santa Clause to a mining company and the Scrooge to the taxpayers of Wisconsin." We live in a state where the Republicans hold the majority, and with Republicans nearsighted solely on Bill 426 it's seems that they have one goal for this term; to wrecklessly disregard the environment and human life and turn Northern Wisconsin into a pit mine.
The editorial says, "It's been reported that Goebic Taconie called for modifications in the bill before it was even heard. For example, altering the recycling fee for waste rock from $7.03 per ton to 2.7 cents a ton benefits the mining company. That is estimated to cost the state's recycling and environmental programs $172 million a year." Special interests have plagued the Walker reign in Wisconsin, and this is another dispicable example of Big Business controlling our government. These decisions are mind boggling, and unfortunately not surprising one bit.
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