Red granite of Eastern Uusimaa stopped Cogema-Areva
Päivitys: Marikki HakolaRed granite of Eastern Uusimaa stopped Cogema-Areva
We got a great and maybe also a decisive victory when the Ministry of Trade and Industry rejected the Cogema/Areva company and their application for uranium search in Eastern Uusimaa region 19th January 2007.
We have done a memorable campaign: Demonstration, concerts for both younger and older people, Children’s festival, frequent proclamations for media & other interested, over 500 official opinions sent to the Ministry, besides of local communities own proclamations and not to forget also other, minor happenings beside over 3000 names against the uranium search in the area.
The Ministry of trade and industry has skilfully made a decision, where a special emphasis has been put on the extensive dimensions of the area and also on the population density in the areas now endangered. Also, according to the Ministry, the application has contained noticeable lacks of information and the application has also been changed many times (18th January 2005, 19th April 2006, 27th October 2006, 17th November 2006, 28th December 2006 and 3rd January 2007) and thus the application has been rejected as insufficient and unexplained.
This decision can be regarded as one which is very hard to change even after the elections. Cogema/Areva can complain about the decision, but this may easily result in internationally compromised situation.
The popular movement Uraaniton.org-Uranfri is very pleased on the decision of the Ministry of trade and industry. We warmly thank all the people who has taken any action against the uranium mining and also the public servants as well the people in municipal confidential posts. We have been noticed and our message has been taken account into.
Local residents, companies and other societies are very concerned about the known problems in the current mining law dating from the year 1965. The negative outcome for the applicant was a result of the Ministry of trade and industry using the discretionary power required to interpret the mining law which is highly appreciated by Uraaniton.org.
THE IMPORTANT MISSION FOR NEXT PARLIAMENT IS TO RENEW THE MINING LAW
The new mining law must better take into account the current environmental and constitutional legislation. The new law should ensure that not even reservations for mines (the first step in legislation in Finland) could be made in national sceneries, ground water or nature reservations, Natura areas nor to the drainage areas of water systems. Moreover, the law should prohibit the granting of mining claims to areas with dense population, such as Eastern Uusimaa is.
The mining law must also contain a claim for extensive socio-economic estimation – pros and cons of the project – to be done before the mining claim can be done, taking into account economical, sociological and environmental aspects. Also, the local authorities must also have authority over a mining claim in their territory, since now the possibilities of communities to protect their inhabitants are only marginal and also sets the citizens living in scattered settlement areas in different, unfair position.
Also the obstacles for mining claims mentioned in the current mining law must be increased to pay regard also to new environmental laws already before the granting of the mining claim. The land owners should be informed about new mining reservations. The law should also grant the citizens a right to affect to the decisions which affect oneselves, as the Århus agreement and constitutional law already states.
The establishment of mining claim should also contain sufficient economic warranties if the mining actions endangers or otherwise causes expenses for the local people, environment of companies. Currently the costs usually are covered by the taxpayers.
The decision can be read in the internet site of the Ministry of Trade and Industry at http://www.ktm.fi and in local registry offices in local communties.
On behalf of Uraaniton.org - Uranfri
The informatory group
Reija-Riikka Stenbäck, Askola
Mikko Vuolanto, Porvoo
Merja Enroth, Pukkila
Tapio Reinikainen, Porvoo