Shillong, August 08: One of the prominent citizen of Meghalaya who all along opposing mining of Uranium in the state of Meghalaya Dr PBM Basaiawmoit, has written to Smti Sumitra Mahajan the speaker of the Lok Sabha appreciating the initiative in observing Hiroshima Day by Members of Lok Sabha on Monday, 06 August, 2018:
Dr This is to express deep appreciation for your initiative taken by Honourable Members of the Lok Sabha to observe Hiroshima Day on Monday, 06 August, 2018 while the House was in session with the House standing “in silence for some time in memory of victims of the two bombings in Japan. (courtesy, NDTV Report)
Tomorrow, 09 August, 2018, will be the 73rd anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki whereby at 11:02 AM (Japanese Time) of a 22, , 09 August, 1945, a 22, 000 ton TNT bomb was dropped over the city of Nagasaki from a height of some 1,650 ft., instantly killing between 60,000 and 80,000 innocent persons after dropping a 12,500 TNT bomb over Hiroshima on 06 August, 1945 at 08:16 AM (Japanese Time), instantly killing 80,000 innocent persons, injuring 35,000 persons and another 60,000 persons died by the end of the year, 1945. And as you have stated inside the Lok Sabha, “Today, even after 73 years, the innocent residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki continue to suffer from the dreadful after effects of nuclear radiations.” (courtesy, NDTV Report)
It is, however, sad and most unfortunate that till date, none of the U. S. Presidents have expressed regret over the two bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 73 years ago and instead, nations/countries are amassing and stockpiling weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons and nuclear bombs through mining of atomic minerals like uranium, plutonium, thorium and others thereby contributing to radiation hazards to the environment, air, water, soil and biodiversity and in particular, the gullible and voiceless indigenous communities where these atomic minerals are found under the soil. For them, it is a catch 22 situation as they stand between the devil and the deep blue sea.
It is not only mining but commercialising/trading/exporting/importing in refined atomic minerals and probably, of the ore itself without proper safeguards during the transportation process.
Nuclear power plants are established through bilateral treaties with like-minded countries and/ countries having similar agenda while the public, are made to digest or silenced through labelling them as ‘antinational’ in that the /NPPs are for ‘peaceful’ purposes. There are arguments promoted that nuclear energy is clean energy but unfortunately, not taking into account the disastrous after effects of mining and refining/cleaning processes and who bears the brunt ?
You are more than aware that last year, on 07 July, 2017, the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted due to the fact nuclear weapons (a) give rise to “catastrophic humanitarian consequences”; (b) has “grave implications for human survival” and; (c) that there is “the urgency of achieving and maintaining a nuclear-weapon -free-world” and many others.
Madam, would you and the Hon’ble Prime take initiatives for India to sign and ratify the U.N. Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, i.e. if we really concerned for peace at all levels and dimensions, above all, to put an end, once and for all, to human suffering of any kind, caused by many motivated interests at the cost of precious lives and survival.
Dr Basiawmoit said that we must begin right from the source, i.e. forthwith stop uranium/plutonium/thorium mining and accelerate the pace to acquire alternative energy derived from non-fossil and/non-mineral. As our Prime Minister has initiated the International Solar Alliance last year, tapping of solar and wind energy should be promoted vigorously through the length and breadth of India – from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Moreh to Morbi. Siaid Dr PBM Basaiawmoit Consultant to North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF).
