(November 23, 1990) The 13th annual general meeting of the French network against uranium mining, INFO URANIUM, was held this year in the Gard departement in Southern France near the proposed Serviers uranium mining site.
(342.3419) WISE Amsterdam - For the first time the meeting was not only attended by French and West German groups but also by a representative of citizen committees in East Germany's uranium province. Thus the meeting became the first one of anti-uranium groups of the two largest uranium producing countries in Europe.
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CZECH FUEL AND URANIUM SUPPLY |
Since the last meeting, no new uranium mines have been opened in France as the world uranium market has reached a historic depression. Even the projected new mine at Berne in Brittanny (Western France) has been dropped this year; it had caused the largest anti-uranium struggles in France over the last years (see WISE News Communique 322.3228). French uranium producers have even announced the closure of existing operations in whole areas as In the Vendee departement (Western France). They are now concentrating on the exploitation of well-developed mines with higher ore grades. Because in the past French ecological groups have struggled against the opening of new mines only, their activities have slowed down significantly. However, during the meeting it was recognized that there is also a need to focus attention on operating mines and especially on the shut-down of uranium mining and milling sites with their huge potential for long-term contamination of environment and groundwater.
As environmental standards and legislation on the reclamation of uranium mining and milling sites are not very well developed in the European countries, a transfer of know-how mainly from the United States was regarded as useful. And as this problem is not only found in France but even more obviously in Eastern Germany, Czechoslovakia and Hungary, where probably much of the uranium activities will be halted soon, the idea of a European Conference on the ecological problems associated with the decommissioning and reclamation of uranium facilities was born. It could be held in 1991 in one of the major uranium provinces of Europe. One of the main obstacles for such a conference will most probably be the language: There is very little knowledge of English within the French and East German groups, so there will be the need for simultaneous translations in English, French and German.
Offers and proposals for conference locations, speakers, translators and funding are very welcome.
Source and contact: Peter Diehl, Schulstr.13, W-7881 Herrischried, FRG, tel & fax: +49-7764-1034.