PR:ANTI-URANIUM MINING DEMONSTRATION IN RANUA

ANTI-URANIUM MINING DEMONSTRATION AND SEMINAR IN RANUA
On Saturday the 7th of November, about 80 people gathered in front the Ranua town hall to demonstrate against the uranium mining plans of Areva, in this small community and all over the world. Members of the public then attended a seminar regarding the hazards of uranium mining.

The demonstration has been very lively and loud, the participants were singing creative songs and slogans. Many banners and signs had been brought to the demonstration, like the scary future herald (code of arms) of "URANUA", a radioactive moose, and "lappi - suomen uraanisiirtomaa?" (Lapland - Finland's uranium colony?). Costumes were created including seven samurais carrying "ei uranua" flags and a walkingmhuman sized mutated cloudberry.

Upon reaching the market square a street theatre performance took place and a variety of speeches were given by local demonstrators, delegates of Ranua rescue, international supporters and spontaneous speakers from all over Finland.

The demonstration ended at the local school where, about 50 people ate lunch provided by locals and then began the uranium seminar. The seminar consisted of speeches of teacher Ulla Klözer from "Women for Peace": "Uranium Lifecycle and Waste", anthropologist Ulla Valovesi: "Nuclear Industry and Environmental Racism" and Prof. Dr. of physics Inge Schmitz-Feuerhake, from Bremen University: "Health Effects of Uranium in Workers and Residents: the Experience in Germany". after this the audience and participants of the seminar have discussed the upcoming questions with the independent experts.

Of Ranua Council's 27 members, 25 attended the information meeting with Areva and STUK on October 14, which unfortunately has been closed to the public. It is assumed that this was an overwhelmingly pro uranium presentation. Sadly only three council members attended the public seminar, independently organized by concerned locals and Ranua Rescue. This is especially concerning after the chairman of Areva Finland, Osmo Kaipainen failed to provide any positive arguments for either nuclear power or uranium mining, despite repeated requests by the attendants of the seminar on November 6 in the University of Oulu.

Information is a core foundation of democracy, if council members rely on the nuclear industry for their deliberations, democracy is bankrupt. We hope that the Ranua's council members will choose common sense instead of swallowing the rather unattractive bait of the nuclear industry, which will poison future generations of the community they represent.