[LINK] "Sept-Îles residents oppose uranium exploration"

[rfmcdonald]

Here in Canada, residents of the very isolated eastern Québec mining town of Sept-Iles are very hostile to the idea of opening up uranium exploration in their hinterland, regardless of economic benefits.

The Quebec government has a duty to put a stop to plans for uranium exploration in the Sept-Îles region because of the overwhelming opposition of residents, the citys mayor, Serge Lévesque, said Tuesday.

Lévesque was reacting to the release of a poll ordered by municipal officials last month after two dozen local doctors threatened to resign if B.C.-based Terra Ventures Inc. goes ahead with planned drilling in the area.

[. . .]

According to the poll, 91 per cent of the 1002 Sept-Îles residents queried about the question of uranium exploration said they were opposed to the idea.

Of those opposed to the project, 79 per cent said they were concerned about the negative impact on health and the dangers linked to radioactivity.

Thirty-three per cent said they were worried about negative effects on the environment, while 17 per cent said they were concerned about the impact on water. Six per cent were concerned about the effect on the air quality.

How much of this fear is realistic, I wonder?