How Do You Feel About Uranium Mining in Virginia?

Pittsylvania County Virginia is a quite farming burg just north of Danville.

Pittsylvania County Virginia is a quite farming burg just north of Danville. While not much happens there anymore – the factories have long been shuddered, and unemployment for the area is the some of the highest in the state – a valuable, but controversial resources lies buried beneath the soil – Uranium, and lots of it. It’s considered to be one of the largest deposits in the country, if not the world.

Last year marked the 30-year anniversary of the discovery of this deposit and last year also marked the 30-year ban on mining uranium in Virginia.

There are many players in this story – the people of Pittsylvania, the company that hopes to mine the resource, Virginia Uranium Inc., the politician’s who’s pockets were lined ahead of last year’s Virginia General Assembly, the people of Virginia Beach who get their water supply from Lake Gaston, only a stones throw away from the proposed mining location. Even people from North Carolina along the Virginia border have issued concerns over the possibility of contamination.

This is all a light introduction to the topic – it’s a complicated story and it’s not easy to follow at times. For those of you hoping to learn more, you’ve got an interesting chance.

Hot Water, a documentary examining uranium mining and its impact across the country, is getting shown at the Byrd Theater tomorrow evening. Take a look at the trailer for the movie below:

Learn a bit about an issue affecting the state, support independent film, and hang out at the Byrd. Sounds like a good Tuesday night to me.

WHEN: Tues., November 12, 2013, 7:00 pm

Come out at 6:30 pm before the screening to see producer Lizabeth Rogers and the Virginia “stars” of the film walk the red carpet and host a press conference to discuss the implications of uranium mining in Virginia.