Part 2: "Our land is stolen"

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Jan 2011

Part 2: "Our land is stolen"

Original article and photos here

by Fredrik Loberg, "The Origin of Nuclear Power", Part 2, April 9 2010

Marius Paul is stil in strong opposition to the uranium industry.
Photo: Mattias Rubin



Men and women wear clothes like these at the pow-wow festivities.
Photos: Mattias Rubin

Cameco's uranium or not?

Oskarshamn nuclear power plant can get uranium from any part of the world,

the company in Oskarshamn, OKG, explains, sometimes having to fill out its

uranium needs by buying from the open so-called spot market, and this uranium

can according to OKG not be traced at all.

But as another example of how incredibly complicated world uranium trade is, OKG

in 2010 suddenly declares that this Swedish company only uses Cameco regarding

natural uranium. Trucks from Saskatchewan that for decades have rolled up to the

Blind River refinery and the conversion process there, are now driving south across

the border to the United States.

For this year, the U.S. company ConverDyn is contracted for conversion, says

Alexander Lindqvist, the one responsible for OKG's uranium supply. The reason is

some production problems for Cameco, according to Alexander Lindqvist.

We must be sure of supplies, he says.

Good to deal with

Just as we had been told, Alexander Lindqvist believes the U.S. radiation protection

laws are stricter than the Canadian laws. During its own check visit in the U.S. OKG

has also concluded that Converdyn is a good company to deal with. It is a company

half-owned by Honeywell, which according to the Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

is the world's 15th largest arms manufacturers. Honeywell makes control systems

for nuclear weapons and is is blacklisted by a number of ethical funds. After the

Swedish Radio at the end of last year reported on the Nobel Foundation's close

collaboration with Honeywell, this cooperation has been criticized.

OKG stresses how vital it is to make their own checks, during the conversion but

especially in mining areas. According to OKG, contracts of buying uranium is made

after careful evaluation of the supplier's environmental and quality programs.

     - If our suppliers get a bad image, it could spill over to us and we do don’t

       want that, Alexander Lindqvist says.

     - We try to see as much as possible, meet with local politicians, representatives

       of trade unions and indigenous people so that we not only have the company's

       version.

During the autumn of 2009 OKG carried out a so-called audit, an on-the-ground

analysis in Canada.

    - We saw nothing alarming, Alexander Lindqvist says.

Cameco has been singled out as a positive example. A year and a half ago, a

seminar was held in Malmö in Sweden, where Cameco told about their program

to involve indigenous people in the uranium industry. Cameco's efforts have got

many positive reactions from uranium buyers like OKG.

During our trip in Canada and Saskatchewan, we visited another place where few

Swedes have been, another First Nation reserve. It is located just outside society

Meadow Lake and on the weekend when we arrive the annual "pow-wow" is

going on. That is a colorful celebration of indigenous traditions with songs, dances

and cuisine. One thousand people have arrived.

Still angry

Here we meet Marius Paul. He has brought a bus with young people from

another reserve area, even further north, in Beaval. Marius Paul has been

active in the resistance movement against uranium mining in Saskatchewan

– in particular against the Key Lake mine, the world's largest uranium mine.

He has over the years participated in many demonstrations against the uranium

industries' consequences and he is still very angry.

    - They have stolen our country, people have been forced to move and

       uranium mining has caused human illness. For us, the uranium is not

       anything good as it is for authorities, companies and people in Europe.

    - For us it is a negative energy force, which also creates terrible weapons,

       Marius Paul says.

    - We would need the whole world to look at these problems, but the major

       economic forces that are moving are very powerful, Marius says before

       he drives the bus back north from the festivities in Meadow Lake, to the

       reserve Patunak outside Beaval.

Fredrik Loberg
fredrik.loberg@ostran.se
0491-78 41 00

Listen to CKRZ, the radio station on the Six Nations reserve (click here for web streaming)

See Autonomy & Solidarity for extensive video and audio footage
Also see links page for other sites with news and updates

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