Think Virginia’s uranium fight is over? Think again. A reader sent me a note earlier today saying that he heard this ad on WRVA in Richmond.
The basics? Uranium mining is so terrible it could force people from their homes, their way of life will be destroyed, cats and dogs will live together, mass hysteria, etc., etc.
Listeners are warned that Gov. McDonnell is looking to skirt the General Assembly and implement uranium mining regulations. They must tell him no, otherwise, the home, the lifestyle, all gone. The uranium must stay in the ground forever.
The whole thing is paid for by a group called “Foundation Earth,” whose mission is to “bring an earth-centered economy into reality through a major rethinking of society implemented via outreach campaigns.” That “rethinking of society” would seem to include scaring the bejezzus out of folks. Or, if this piece on their ideal State of the Union message is any indication, convincing them that Gaia is angry, and we must do whatever we can to keep the fragile “life support systems of this planet” functioning.
It’s your garden-variety eco-pap. But the radio ad? That’s pure, fear-mongering gold. The only truly disturbing thing about it all is that so many Republicans (some of them self-styled conservatives) have made common cause with groups like this. The aim isn’t just to stop uranium mining, but oil and gas exploration, coal mining — everything that Republicans say they support.
Will such eco-babble prevent the Governor from beginning the process of establishing rules and regulations for mining? It’s an open question. I have heard disturbing reports that rather than consider the reports assembled by his own panel of experts, the Governor is instead leaning on public opinion to guide his decision on mining rules. If true, that’s not leadership. It’s surrender…and plays directly into the longer game being played by groups like Foundation Earth.
Update
In fairness to Gov. McDonnell, I should note that his office strongly denies the notion that it is being lead by pressure campaigns (from either side) on this issue and remains committed to studying the official reports at hand before it comes to any sort of decision, pro, or con, on mining rules.
