Tuareg Activist Takes on French Nuclear Company

Areva, a largely state-owned French power giant, has extensive uranium mining operations in northern Niger. That uranium generates the majority of France's electricity, along with thousands of jobs in France and across Europe. Yet, left in northern Niger are millions of tons of radioactive waste that have contaminated groundwater and killed crops, destroying the nomadic lifestyle of the Tuareg. Workers at the mine have long complained about inadequate safety equipment, and mysterious ailments. One local activist is taking on the company and claims that the workers are dying as a result of its activities. Referring to the mines, he states, "You can't just fight against nuclear power plants and waste repositories, if you want to kill the tree, kill the roots." But it is an upward battle. The problems and profits of uranium exacerbate tensions which routinely spill over into rebellion and coups, the latest against President Mamadou Tandja in mid-February. Tuareg rebels now roam the north, with ominously growing ties to international terror networks interested in uranium. It remains to be seen whether the rest of the world will care more about securing its uranium than it previously did about the health of those who mined it. – YaleGlobal