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BLACKSBURG
--As we approach the end of 2011, the debate concerning uranium mining in Virginia is reaching a crescendo as those in favor and those opposed anticipate that a bill to overturn the existing moratorium on uranium mining will be introduced into the Virginia General Assembly in 2012. While this is an important issue, especially to those who live in Southside Virginia and in other parts of the commonwealth that might host uranium deposits, the implications extend far beyond the question of whether or not to exploit the largest unmined uranium deposit in the United States.The broader and more important question concerns the future that we, as residents of the commonwealth and citizens of the United States, want to forge for our children and their children and grandchildren. America is in decline because we have become dependent on others to provide all of the resources and gadgets that we have become accustomed to, and which lead to the high standard of living and quality of life that Americans enjoy.
The United States became a great nation because for the first two centuries of our existence we were mostly self-sufficient in terms of energy and raw materials needed for manufacturing. We produced tangible goods that not only provided jobs to Americans, but also provided income as those goods were sold at home and abroad. Today, we produce little in the way of tangible goods in this country, as iron and steel, furniture, textiles, electronics, and most other types of manufacturing activities have moved to other countries.
This loss of domestic productivity comes at a great cost. In 2009, the United States spent $309 billion to import oil, enough to hire all of the 14 million unemployed at an annual salary of $22,000. Much of this oil was imported from countries that are openly or covertly working toward the our
Many of those who oppose uranium mining claim that cheaper and higher-grade sources of uranium are available from stable overseas producers. This is true to some extent, but many of the people who suggest that we should import this valuable energy resource are the same people who have bumper stickers on their cars that read "Buy Local." Perhaps they mean that we should buy local if it benefits them, or at least doesn't inconvenience them or expose them to risks.
Many of those who oppose uranium mining oppose any and all types of mining or infrastructure development. Some of these people will drive their gasoline-powered cars to town hall meetings to oppose offshore drilling for oil, or use their computers that contain copper and gold and many other metals to send out emails opposing development of copper mines. Some go to rallies
There are many reasons to support the mining of uranium in Virginia, if it can be shown through rigorous scientific studies that it can be done with minimal and acceptable risk to the environment and to human health. Most Americans enjoy the many benefits that mining and other types of resource extraction provide, and it is not morally or ethically acceptable for Americans to expect others to face potential risks and inconveniences associated with producing those resources if we are not also prepared to accept some of the risks ourselves.
Let us stop being a country of elitist hypocrites who oppose anything that might inconvenience us while at the same time demanding the many benefits that resource extraction and manufacturing provide.
I grew up listening to parents, grandparents, and friends who lived through both world wars and the Great Depression, and the important lesson learned was the shared sense of responsibility that this generation espoused: the willingness to sacrifice for the common good.
That sense of shared responsibility is lost today in America, and I fear that the bright future that my parents and their parents built for my generation through their sacrifices will not be there for my children and their children and grandchildren.
Saying "yes" to mining and producing a valuable non-carbon-dioxide generating energy resource within the commonwealth can and should be the first step toward re-establishing our energy independence and helping to build a brighter future.
Robert Bodnar is the C.C. Garvin and University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech. Bodnar was recognized as Virginia's Outstanding Scientist for 2010.