A
Researcher and Environmentalist John Magafu has advised the government
to formulate policies that will govern the uranium sector and protect
people during extraction instead of rushing on explorations that can be
harmful to people and the environment.
Magafu gave the advice in Dar-es-Salaam over the weekend during a capacity building workshop organized by the Legal and Human Right Centre (LHRC). The workshop aimed at equipping journalists with knowledge on uranium extraction to ensure perfect reportage.
For her part, LHRC Corporate and Environmental Program Officer, Flaviana Lwakilis said that uranium extraction is very dangerous because it produces radioactive which can spread through water, air and soil therefore its extraction will completely affect the security as well as healthy of the people around the area.
Lwakilis said that according to the research done by LHRC, majority of the people in those areas are unaware of the effects of the uranium into their bodies whereby according to Wikipedia uranium can cause lung cancer, kidney failure as well as affect the genetic mutations of the people hence, its extractions means catastrophe to the people and the evidence was seen in Namtumbo whereby people took uranium sands to keep it in their homes.
“Uranium has many effects and people don’t understand the side effect of it but the effects are many such as lung cancer and kidney failure,” said Lwakilis.
A senior journalist Ndimara Tegambwage said though the extraction of uranium will enable the government to produce electricity it is likely to affect electricity distribution in the country because its extraction also requires a lot of power.
Furthermore Ndimara said that uranium extraction needs a lot of water therefore there is big possibility for water shortage and pollution in the areas where extraction will be conducted.
He urged journalists to learn through different sources on the effects of uranium and educate people.
On the last parliamentary session Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Prof Sospeter Muhongo told the parliament that the government has given the tender to Mantra to operate uranium extraction in Namtumbo district despite some claims from the people that the region is within Selous Game Reserve.
He said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has accepted.
Magafu gave the advice in Dar-es-Salaam over the weekend during a capacity building workshop organized by the Legal and Human Right Centre (LHRC). The workshop aimed at equipping journalists with knowledge on uranium extraction to ensure perfect reportage.
For her part, LHRC Corporate and Environmental Program Officer, Flaviana Lwakilis said that uranium extraction is very dangerous because it produces radioactive which can spread through water, air and soil therefore its extraction will completely affect the security as well as healthy of the people around the area.
Lwakilis said that according to the research done by LHRC, majority of the people in those areas are unaware of the effects of the uranium into their bodies whereby according to Wikipedia uranium can cause lung cancer, kidney failure as well as affect the genetic mutations of the people hence, its extractions means catastrophe to the people and the evidence was seen in Namtumbo whereby people took uranium sands to keep it in their homes.
“Uranium has many effects and people don’t understand the side effect of it but the effects are many such as lung cancer and kidney failure,” said Lwakilis.
A senior journalist Ndimara Tegambwage said though the extraction of uranium will enable the government to produce electricity it is likely to affect electricity distribution in the country because its extraction also requires a lot of power.
Furthermore Ndimara said that uranium extraction needs a lot of water therefore there is big possibility for water shortage and pollution in the areas where extraction will be conducted.
He urged journalists to learn through different sources on the effects of uranium and educate people.
On the last parliamentary session Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Prof Sospeter Muhongo told the parliament that the government has given the tender to Mantra to operate uranium extraction in Namtumbo district despite some claims from the people that the region is within Selous Game Reserve.
He said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has accepted.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
No comments:
Post a Comment