Tuesday-Thursday, March 31st-April 2nd

This Week's Agenda

• Self-Guided Learning Assignment Work Time
• Extra time and interest in going into more depth on certain concepts?  Consider some of these Optional Extension readings/films/videos
  

Tuesday: Inspiration Journal Starter #1
Watch this video clip and answer the following questions: "Cursed by Coal: Mining the Navajo Nation"

• What are various arguments for and against coal mining on the Navajo nation?
  
• Which environmental ethics do you hear articulated in this debate?
  
• What is your personal opinion about coal mining on the Navajo nation's land?
  

Wednesday Inspiration Journal Starter #2:
"4 Corners" debate-- which of the following ethics most resonates with you and why? Go stand by the poster.

• Preservationism/Intrinsic Value of Nature
• Conservationism/Instrumental Value of Nature
• Sustainability
• Environmental Justice
• Strict anthropocentricism

Example of Nature Writing:  Read this. It's a student example and will get you psyched to go outside and commune with nature!


Thursday Inspiration Journal Starter #3:
Short Film about the Bakken: "White Earth"
Goal: To see what life is like for folks in the trenches of oil and gas production (not just company CEO's or consumers benefiting from these energy sources)

Write on this question after viewing the above short film:

• Do you think that jobs for folks like those featured in this short film outweigh environmental concerns and/or concerns for the future welfare of our planet and future generations of people?

Thursday's Agenda
1. Whole class review/discussion on "Bakken Business" article
2. Watch these:

• 2 minute video on benefits of fracking
  
• 2 minute video on risks of fracking

3. Self-guided learning activity work time


Better Links for Town Hall Debate Prep (Activity 4):
§  Watch the film trailer to Uranium Drive-In and read the film summary to the right of the video on this website : http://uraniumdrivein.com/

 §  Check out some Google Images of Uranium Mills


§  Energy Fuels Website: The old company that owned the mill

·         This is the website for Energy Fuel, the nuclear power development company in charge of building and running uranium mills


·         ***Use this sub-link particular to find out about another Uranium mine in Blanding Utah that is similar to proposed Pinonridgemill
http://www.energyfuels.com/white_mesa_mill/

·         Use this link for more specifics on history of and uses of Uranium

§  http://www.examiner.com/article/pinon-ridge-uranium-mill-one-step-closer-to-special-use-permit

·         This article summarizes a town meeting in 2009 to hear from opponents and proponents to the mill.  It summarizes pros and cons.

§  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/fukushima-cancer-rates-risks_n_2779729.html 

·         This article discusses the cancer risks after the Fukishima nuclear power plant explosion

§  http://www.hcn.org/wotr/a-uranium-mill-makes-no-sense-in-western-colorado

·         This is an article in High Country News by a Telluride resident who argues against the mill.

§  Optional: Colorado Government Report on Health Risks of the Pinon Ridge Mill

• Health and Safety Measures for the Mill taken by the company as stated by Energy Fuels:
  

Numerous safety systems will be present in the Piñon Ridge Mill to protect workers from being exposed to excess levels of radiation. Area air monitors will be located throughout the Piñon Ridge Mill to monitor the concentrations of uranium dust in the mill. Workers involved in potentially dusty operations will wear breathing-zone air monitors to monitor the air that they breathe. For those workers exposed to higher concentrations of uranium dust, urine samples will be collected and analyzed to determine the total uranium that has been inhaled and ingested. In addition those workers exposed to the highest levels of gamma radiation will wear gamma-monitoring badges, similar to what x-ray technicians and airline screeners wear. Other protections include regular power washing of equipment and vehicles, monitoring of the amount of time a worker is exposed to radiation, and general housekeeping and personal hygiene.

Working in the Piñon Ridge Mill will be no more dangerous than working in any other industrial facility.

Some Additional Benefits of Nuclear Power according to Energy Fuel (The Company)

• Nuclear power - like wind, hydro and solar energy - can generate electricity with no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas emissions. The critical difference is that nuclear energy is the only proven option with the capacity to produce vastly expanded supplies of clean electricity on a global scale.
• The United States currently derives 20% of its electricity from nuclear technology. This makes the United States the biggest producer of nuclear power in the world. Interestingly, the United States currently imports 90% of its nuclear fuel from other countries. Therefore, the United States is in danger of falling into the same “dependence trap” we have with oil.