‘Threads of Hope’: the Endos in Israel
Paula Endo snapped this picture of the wall built in Bethlehem that interrupts the major north-south highway from Hebron through Bethlehem to Jerusalem, creating access to the grounds of Rachel's Tomb – a former mosque – for Jewish visitors to the site. Paula and her husband Todd, part of an Interfaith Peacebuilder's Tour group, were able to walk right up to the wall. The two will detail their recent visits to Israel and Palestine – their presentation, called “Israel and Palestine: Threads of Hope,” starts at 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 29) – in the parish hall at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington. (There’s a wine and light appetizer reception at 4.) A discussion will follow. Open to all. For more information, contact Fran Moore Krebser at 540-631-0821.
The uranium question: addressed
Should corporations be allowed to mine and mill radioactive uranium in Virginia? This question – with high stakes for Virginia’s public health and environmental quality – will be the subject of an informational town hall meeting in Washington this Saturday ( Jan 28). The 5 to 6 p. m. meeting at the Theatre in Washington will be hosted by the Piedmont Environmental Council ( PEC). A wine and cheese reception will follow the meeting.
Although there are deposits of uranium throughout the state – including in Rappahannock – the mining and milling ( processing) of uranium is currently banned in Virginia, because of the risk of release of radioactive and toxic materials, including multiple carcinogens, into the environment. An ongoing drive by a company called Virginia Uranium, LLC, to end the ban has been the subject of hot political debate. This debate took a significant turn on Jan. 19, when Gov. Robert Mcdonnell requested that there be no effort to lift the ban this year, but directed state agencies to begin a process of drafting laws and regulations for potential uranium mining in Virginia.
A major study by the National Academy of Sciences released in December concluded that uranium mining in Virginia’s rainy and volatile climate would expose citizens to unprecedented risk, and that no state or federal regulatory agency has the expertise or experience necessary to manage those risks.
PEC President Chris Miller said in response to the Governor’s announcement, “It is a waste of time and money to start drafting regulations at this time. The National Academy of Sciences report affirmed just how risky uranium mining in Virginia could be, and called on the commonwealth not to move forward without substantial public input and without extensive scientific and technical briefings.”
At the town hall meeting this Saturday, PEC’S director of state policy, Dan Holmes, and senior energy policy analyst Rob Marmet, will address the potential impacts of uranium mining and milling in Virginia, the implications for Rappahannock and the surrounding area, and the political process in the wake of the governor’s recent announcement.