SAY NO to uranium mines that cause extinction!
- par: Kailey L.
- destinataire: WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob
In August of 2016, Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority denied a proposal for a new uranium mine. The Cameco's Yeelirrie mine didn't meet critical environmental standards. It put several species at severe risk, likely pushing them to extinction.
Yet the government is ignoring the EPA's suggestions. It just permitted the uranium mine to be developed. In a justifying statement, State Development Minister Bill Marmion said uranium was an important industry for Western Australia.
In other words, money is more important than the protection of air, soil, water, and wildlife.
WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob claims that species will be protected, because the mine will operate under strong environmental restrictions. However, environmental restrictions are often not harshly enforced, and many companies actively choose not to follow them. It's very easy to commit the act against the environment and apologize/pay a fine later. But once stygofauna and troglofauna go extinct, no fines or apologies can bring them back to their ecosystems.
These small creatures may seem insignificant, because we tend to value iconic megafauna - wolves, bears, whales, etc. However, one extinction can massively disrupt an entire ecosystem. And extinction is irreversible.
Sign now to demand that WA Environment Minister listen to the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority. No more ignoring science. No more uranium mines that push species to extinction.
In August of 2016, Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority denied a proposal for a new uranium mine. The Cameco's Yeelirrie mine didn't meet critical environmental standards. It put several species at severe risk, likely pushing them to extinction.
Yet the government is ignoring the EPA's suggestions. It just permitted the uranium mine to be developed. In a justifying statement, State Development Minister Bill Marmion said uranium was an important industry for Western Australia.
In other words, money is more important than the protection of air, soil, water, and wildlife.
WA Environment Minister Albert Jacob claims that species will be protected, because the mine will operate under strong environmental restrictions. However, environmental restrictions are often not harshly enforced, and many companies actively choose not to follow them. It's very easy to commit the act against the environment and apologize/pay a fine later. But once stygofauna and troglofauna go extinct, no fines or apologies can bring them back to their ecosystems.
These small creatures may seem insignificant, because we tend to value iconic megafauna - wolves, bears, whales, etc. However, one extinction can massively disrupt an entire ecosystem. And extinction is irreversible.
We demand that WA Environment Minister listen to the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority. No more ignoring science. No more uranium mines that push species to extinction.
