‘Ready to fight’: how a Russian uranium ban would threaten Native American tribes (1 Viewer)

[TU Curmudgeon]

From The Guardian

‘Ready to fight’: how a Russian uranium ban would threaten Native American tribes​

Sacred Native American sites such as the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears may seem a long way from the devastation unfolding in Ukraine. But as the US mulls a ban on Russian uranium, part of economic levers to stop Putin’s war, Indigenous communities living near US mines could pay the price.

John Barrasso, a senator from Wyoming, recently introduced a bill that calls for a ban on all forms of uranium imported from Russia. Uranium fuels America’s nuclear power plants, and about 20% of that comes from Russia, while close to another 30% is imported from the Russian allies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Such a ban would shift American uranium production into overdrive. In an editorial in the Casper Star Tribune, Barrasso pointed out that the US has “vast uranium resources”, including in Wyoming, but 90% of the uranium used in nuclear power plants is imported. “Rather than letting our uranium sit in the ground, we ought to use it,” he wrote. A longtime advocate of the uranium industry, Barrasso also wrote that continuing to buy Russian uranium was funding “Putin’s killing machine”.

Mining companies now stand at the ready, with the possibility to ramp up production at sites near the Grand Canyon, Bears Ears national monument in Utah and at multiple locations in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Many of the operations pose environmental and spiritual threats to Indigenous communities who live near the mines and have fought their existence for decades.

Amber Reimondo, the energy director of the not-for-profit Grand Canyon Trust, says the Senate’s proposal risks “perpetuating environmental injustices on our own soil”.

COMMENT:-

Interesting conundrum, eh wot?​

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

From The Guardian

‘Ready to fight’: how a Russian uranium ban would threaten Native American tribes​

Sacred Native American sites such as the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears may seem a long way from the devastation unfolding in Ukraine. But as the US mulls a ban on Russian uranium, part of economic levers to stop Putin’s war, Indigenous communities living near US mines could pay the price.

John Barrasso, a senator from Wyoming, recently introduced a bill that calls for a ban on all forms of uranium imported from Russia. Uranium fuels America’s nuclear power plants, and about 20% of that comes from Russia, while close to another 30% is imported from the Russian allies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Such a ban would shift American uranium production into overdrive. In an editorial in the Casper Star Tribune, Barrasso pointed out that the US has “vast uranium resources”, including in Wyoming, but 90% of the uranium used in nuclear power plants is imported. “Rather than letting our uranium sit in the ground, we ought to use it,” he wrote. A longtime advocate of the uranium industry, Barrasso also wrote that continuing to buy Russian uranium was funding “Putin’s killing machine”.

Mining companies now stand at the ready, with the possibility to ramp up production at sites near the Grand Canyon, Bears Ears national monument in Utah and at multiple locations in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Many of the operations pose environmental and spiritual threats to Indigenous communities who live near the mines and have fought their existence for decades.

Amber Reimondo, the energy director of the not-for-profit Grand Canyon Trust, says the Senate’s proposal risks “perpetuating environmental injustices on our own soil”.

COMMENT:-

​

Interesting conundrum, eh wot?​

Clinton shut all that country down for mining and drilling. Biden would have to open it back up.

 

[Jkca1]

Since when does anyone in the US give a sh*t about Native Americans? Have you ever driven though a reservation? We stole everything from these unfortunate people. When do they get justice? When do treaties signed with the US Govt. get enforced? I'm just shocked we haven't already taken the uranium by force because that's what we do best.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Clinton shut all that country down for mining and drilling. Biden would have to open it back up.

And the pressure to do so when people can't sit in their air conditioned houses, watching "Real Life World Championship Wet T-Shirt All Star NASCAR Dancing with Apprentice Survivors of the Great American Monster Truck and Tractor Demolition Derby" on their 64" TVs while "the little woman" brings them ice cold beers from the refrigerator between bouts of cooking up mounds of "Tex-Mex ('Veggieburger') Turducken Sliders" will be - what?

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

Since when does anyone in the US give a sh*t about Native Americans? Have you ever driven though a reservation? We stole everything from these unfortunate people. When do they get justice? When do treaties signed with the US Govt. get enforced? I'm just shocked we haven't already taken the uranium by force because that's what we do best.

The hopelessness on reservations is a good example of the failings of socialism. They get a check every month that is just enough to get by and makes it easy stay in poverty rather than improve your lot in life.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

The hopelessness on reservations is a good example of the failings of socialism.

An interesting point of view.

However, under "socialism" not only would the cheques be much more in line with the property taken by the state, but the people receiving them would have a major say in how their lands and incomes were administered.

They get a check every month

Actually they don't. The federal expenditures go - primarily - to federal agencies (that are primarily staffed by non Native Americans) and spent to purchase goods and services from non Native American owned firms that - primarily - employ non Native Americans.

that is just enough to get by and makes it easy stay in poverty rather than improve your lot in life.

Possibly your grasp on reality would be improved by reading "5 NATIVE AMERICAN FUNDING FACTS".

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

An interesting point of view.

However, under "socialism" not only would the cheques be much more in line with the property taken by the state, but the people receiving them would have a major say in how their lands and incomes were administered.

Actually they don't. The federal expenditures go - primarily - to federal agencies (that are primarily staffed by non Native Americans) and spent to purchase goods and services from non Native American owned firms that - primarily - employ non Native Americans.

Possibly your grasp on reality would be improved by reading "5 NATIVE AMERICAN FUNDING FACTS".

So they complain they don’t get enough government money. Your point is?

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

So they complain they don’t get enough government money. Your point is?

My point is that what you were calling "socialism" isn't.

If you take an actual look at how the North American aboriginal peoples viewed "land ownership" they had no concept of "ownership" in the European sense. What they did have was a concept of "use right".

"Use right" CAN be transferred from one party to another, and the fair compensation when that transfer is involuntary is that the former holder of the "use right" should receive what they would be receiving had they still held the "use right". The Native American people are NOT receiving anything even remotely resembling what that fair compensation would be (never have, and the governments never had any intention that they should).

Since there are approximately 2.757 million "Native Americans" in the US, then a reasonable figure for that compensation would be around $33,133 per person per year. That means that the remainder of the US population would have to pay around $273.20 per person per year in additional taxes in order to "pay the rent". Currently the US is paying out on "Indian Affairs" around $979.33 per native American which is about 2.96% of what the "rent" should be.

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

My point is that what you were calling "socialism" isn't.

If you take an actual look at how the North American aboriginal peoples viewed "land ownership" they had no concept of "ownership" in the European sense. What they did have was a concept of "use right".

"Use right" CAN be transferred from one party to another, and the fair compensation when that transfer is involuntary is that the former holder of the "use right" should receive what they would be receiving had they still held the "use right". The Native American people are NOT receiving anything even remotely resembling what that fair compensation would be (never have, and the governments never had any intention that they should).

Since there are approximately 2.757 million "Native Americans" in the US, then a reasonable figure for that compensation would be around $33,133 per person per year. That means that the remainder of the US population would have to pay around $273.20 per person per year in additional taxes in order to "pay the rent". Currently the US is paying out on "Indian Affairs" around $979.33 per native American which is about 2.96% of what the "rent" should be.

So as I said, IYO government isn’t giving them enough money

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

So as I said, IYO government isn’t giving them enough money

"The Gummint" is not paying "fair market value" for that which it appropriated by force of arms (and "The People" are quite happy about it [if they even think of it at all]).

The median US household income is $61,937. The average family size in the US is 3.13. That makes the average per capita family household income approximately $19,775. The total BIA budget is ~$979.33 per person.

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

"The Gummint" is not paying "fair market value" for that which it appropriated by force of arms (and "The People" are quite happy about it [if they even think of it at all]).

The median US household income is $61,937. The average family size in the US is 3.13. That makes the average per capita family household income approximately $19,775. The total BIA budget is ~$979.33 per person.

Get a job.

 

[Glitch]

The hopelessness on reservations is a good example of the failings of socialism. They get a check every month that is just enough to get by and makes it easy stay in poverty rather than improve your lot in life.

That is why there are no reservations in Alaska (with one exception). In the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971 Congress created a dozen Alaskan native corporations, giving them 45.5 million acres of land (refusing to allow them to sell that land) and just under a billion in cash. All native Alaskans are US citizens, citizens of the State of Alaska, and subject to all US and State laws.

Metlakatla, located in the southern most portion of Alaska's panhandle, is the only reservation in Alaska because they chose to opt out of ANCSA.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Get a job.

I'm sorry if economic reality distresses you.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

That is why there are no reservations in Alaska (with one exception). In the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) of 1971 Congress created a dozen Alaskan native corporations, giving them 45.5 million acres of land (refusing to allow them to sell that land) and just under a billion in cash. All native Alaskans are US citizens, citizens of the State of Alaska, and subject to all US and State laws.

Metlakatla, located in the southern most portion of Alaska's panhandle, is the only reservation in Alaska because they chose to opt out of ANCSA.

In short, the aboriginal Alaskans retained enough of the land to become and remain economically self-sufficient AND were given "use title" which accords to their own historic "land title" traditions. That was, and remains, not the case in the other states.

Other than Alaska, Hawai'i got off next best with round 7.76% of their own land being "given" to the Hawai'ians by the US government (as opposed to the Alaskan 10.70%). Mind you, the 7.76% that the native Hawai'ians were "given" in compensation for losing 100% of it was the worst portion of the lands taken.

 

[Lethargic Aptitude]

This is a BS story

From The Guardian

‘Ready to fight’: how a Russian uranium ban would threaten Native American tribes​

Sacred Native American sites such as the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears may seem a long way from the devastation unfolding in Ukraine. But as the US mulls a ban on Russian uranium, part of economic levers to stop Putin’s war, Indigenous communities living near US mines could pay the price.

John Barrasso, a senator from Wyoming, recently introduced a bill that calls for a ban on all forms of uranium imported from Russia. Uranium fuels America’s nuclear power plants, and about 20% of that comes from Russia, while close to another 30% is imported from the Russian allies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Such a ban would shift American uranium production into overdrive. In an editorial in the Casper Star Tribune, Barrasso pointed out that the US has “vast uranium resources”, including in Wyoming, but 90% of the uranium used in nuclear power plants is imported. “Rather than letting our uranium sit in the ground, we ought to use it,” he wrote. A longtime advocate of the uranium industry, Barrasso also wrote that continuing to buy Russian uranium was funding “Putin’s killing machine”.

Mining companies now stand at the ready, with the possibility to ramp up production at sites near the Grand Canyon, Bears Ears national monument in Utah and at multiple locations in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Many of the operations pose environmental and spiritual threats to Indigenous communities who live near the mines and have fought their existence for decades.

Amber Reimondo, the energy director of the not-for-profit Grand Canyon Trust, says the Senate’s proposal risks “perpetuating environmental injustices on our own soil”.

COMMENT:-

​

Interesting conundrum, eh wot?​

Not really since we will probably just switch to buying it from Canada which is third in the world for uranium production and has the world's largest uranium refinery.

Of course, there is also Australia which is the world's largest uranium producer. There really is no need to open the areas that your OP mentions. Making your story really just BS.

 

[Rexedgar]

Damn Hillary for selling all our uranium!

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

This is a BS story

Obviously you don't believe in either "energy self-sufficiency" or "Buy American".

Not really since we will probably just switch to buying it from Canada which is third in the world for uranium production and has the world's largest uranium refinery.

And how is the US going to deal with the fact that there are other countries bidding on the same material? You do know that Canada is not required by treaty to sell the US Uranium for less than the world market price as it is with oil, don't you?

Of course, there is also Australia which is the world's largest uranium producer.

Actually it's #3 behind Kazakhstan and Canada. The US already absorbs half of Australia's uranium production with almost all of the remainder going to China (which China would have to replace if the US absorbed it [and the most likely place to obtain the replacement would be from Russia]) and Saudi Arabia (and the Saudi royal family might get a bit miffed if the US started scooping their share. (You do know what Saudi Arabia produces - don't you?)

There really is no need to open the areas that your OP mentions. Making your story really just BS.

If there is an American profit to be made by opening up those areas, then they will be opened up. There is no American profit to be made from buying Australian Uranium.

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

I'm sorry if economic reality distresses you.

Getting a job is economic reality. Im sorry if that distresses you.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Getting a job is economic reality. Im sorry if that distresses you.

At 77 I'm not actually interested in looking for work - nor do I have any need to.

 

[Checkerboard Strangler]

From The Guardian

‘Ready to fight’: how a Russian uranium ban would threaten Native American tribes​

Sacred Native American sites such as the Grand Canyon and Bears Ears may seem a long way from the devastation unfolding in Ukraine. But as the US mulls a ban on Russian uranium, part of economic levers to stop Putin’s war, Indigenous communities living near US mines could pay the price.

John Barrasso, a senator from Wyoming, recently introduced a bill that calls for a ban on all forms of uranium imported from Russia. Uranium fuels America’s nuclear power plants, and about 20% of that comes from Russia, while close to another 30% is imported from the Russian allies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Such a ban would shift American uranium production into overdrive. In an editorial in the Casper Star Tribune, Barrasso pointed out that the US has “vast uranium resources”, including in Wyoming, but 90% of the uranium used in nuclear power plants is imported. “Rather than letting our uranium sit in the ground, we ought to use it,” he wrote. A longtime advocate of the uranium industry, Barrasso also wrote that continuing to buy Russian uranium was funding “Putin’s killing machine”.

Mining companies now stand at the ready, with the possibility to ramp up production at sites near the Grand Canyon, Bears Ears national monument in Utah and at multiple locations in Barrasso’s home state of Wyoming. Many of the operations pose environmental and spiritual threats to Indigenous communities who live near the mines and have fought their existence for decades.

Amber Reimondo, the energy director of the not-for-profit Grand Canyon Trust, says the Senate’s proposal risks “perpetuating environmental injustices on our own soil”.

COMMENT:-

​

Interesting conundrum, eh wot?​

In the long run it WILL cost LESS if we finally restart our venture into THORIUM fuel cycles instead.
Yes, initial costs are higher, but URANIUM geopolitics, particularly those regarding WAR, are permanent or longstanding enough that they might as well be.
And thorium is safer. Thorium fuel cycles are meltdown-proof by their very nature, by design.
A thorium fueled reaction CANNOT "melt down".
Biggest point of all is, thorium supplies are relatively the same around the globe, and enough for almost a THOUSAND YEARS of supply.

This is not your grandfather's nuclear power.

 

[Chainsawmassacre]

At 77 I'm not actually interested in looking for work - nor do I have any need to.

And native Americans shouldn't have to work because their ancestors were "robbed" ?

 

[Glitch]

In short, the aboriginal Alaskans retained enough of the land to become and remain economically self-sufficient AND were given "use title" which accords to their own historic "land title" traditions. That was, and remains, not the case in the other states.

Other than Alaska, Hawai'i got off next best with round 7.76% of their own land being "given" to the Hawai'ians by the US government (as opposed to the Alaskan 10.70%). Mind you, the 7.76% that the native Hawai'ians were "given" in compensation for losing 100% of it was the worst portion of the lands taken.

Native Alaskans retained their land because Congress refused to allow them to sell it. To this day Alaskan natives are not allowed to sell any of the land granted to them by Congress. Some of the native corporations that Congress established are doing very well, others, not so well. They also received in excess of $900 million in cash in addition to the 45.5 million acres in land.

 

[Glitch]

And native Americans shouldn't have to work because their ancestors were "robbed" ?

In Alaska the vast majority of native Alaskans are unemployed. There are no jobs in any of the native villages because there are no businesses. There are no businesses in any of the native villages because there are no roads or services. Electricity is available only through a diesel-powered generator. Most villages don't even have schools much less a medical facility. Teachers are periodically flown into these villages to teach students, and the seriously ill have to be flown out to receive medical care. Even law enforcement has to be flown in to these villages whenever the need arises.

It is rather difficult to find a job when there are no jobs.

 

[trouble13]

Since when does anyone in the US give a sh*t about Native Americans? Have you ever driven though a reservation? We stole everything from these unfortunate people. When do they get justice? When do treaties signed with the US Govt. get enforced? I'm just shocked we haven't already taken the uranium by force because that's what we do best.

What justice? We fought a war and they lost. We don't owe them anything.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Native Alaskans retained their land because Congress refused to allow them to sell it.

Not quite. The land was "granted" back to the native Alaskans by the US government. That grant was conditional and the native Alaskans do NOT have "fee simple" title to the land - that remains in the hands of the US government. What the native Alaskans got was "use rights" to the land - which is all that they had ever actually considered that they had.

To this day Alaskan natives are not allowed to sell any of the land granted to them by Congress.

Again, "the land" was NOT "granted" to the native Alaskans. What they received was "use rights".

Some of the native corporations that Congress established are doing very well, others, not so well.

That is the nature of free enterprise capitalism in action - right?

They also received in excess of $900 million in cash in addition to the 45.5 million acres in land.

That works out to around $2.11 per acre (plus the right to use the 10.69% of their own land that the government didn't want).