Environmental issues and the regulation of major mining and manufacturing companies continue to be high on the political agenda. Green activists participate in activities to oppose potentially harmful excavations to nature and the population. In addition, national identity advocates are often seen among such activists. For example, Winona LaDuke argues in her article that it is the burden of Native Americans to lead the U.S. green movement (LaDuke). Winona’s article is profound concern about the plight of minority nationalities who are being harmed by corporations in the nuclear energy field. This essay contains a reflection on the desirability of the greenway and the role of indigenous peoples in its realization.
LaDuke’s article focuses on an analysis of the path that the Navajo tribe took. They were forced to toil for the benefit of the United States, which discovered new points of uranium mining. The Navajo were exposed to increased health risks by receiving little money for their labor (only $1.62 per hour) (LaDuke). Uranium dust causes damage to the lungs, skin on the hands, and mucous membranes. The radioactive contamination is so dangerous that being in the immediate mining areas can be fatal. LaDuke confirms this, pointing out that thousands of miners and their relatives have died, and many families still cannot receive compensation (LaDuke). It has been established that working at the mine has led to a spike in radioactive effects: an increase in cancers and congenital disabilities, for example. Despite the plight of the Navajo Nation, they are still fighting for their right to live on their native lands and eliminate the mining industry. LaDuke enthuses that corporations cannot resist courageous people fighting for land and identity (LaDuke). Nevertheless, despite the successes obtained, the issue of nuclear power now stands along with the problem of the mining industry.
Technology development is always an independent process that seeks only to unlock the potential of scientific knowledge. Although one might disagree with this, the discovery of nuclear energy and the study of particles is not bad. It shows the multifaceted nature of the world and its unique features that were previously impossible to comprehend. Nuclear energy is still challenging to understand, and LaDuke is rightly worried that, along with uranium mining, it poses a significant danger to indigenous peoples and the climate in general. For indigenous peoples, it’s a land issue since only tribal communities retain rich mines. For the environment, it is a thermal imbalance and increased emissions destroying the ozone layer. Based on this, LaDuke proposes accepting the alternative reality of Indigenous peoples seeking an untamed green path (LaDuke). She argues that this is a new opportunity for society to reconsider its attitude toward exploring such harmful industrial areas.
LaDuke’s opinion is hard to disagree with: she is fair in her assessment of the risks to indigenous peoples and the climate. She draws attention to the need to shift the focus to safety and green technologies. However, it should be understood that pursuing a green society may be at odds with comfort. This greenway element is little discussed, so new legislation must learn from the experience of indigenous peoples. Consequently, the people of the Americas must be an essential link in the emergence of a new public energy capability.
Thus, the issues of nuclear power and radioactive element mining are a long and persistent struggle between corporations and people who value the land and national identity. In LaDuke’s view, the only people who are right in this struggle are the proponents of the greenway, who seek a safe and prudent use of the land. This part of society will probably allow the rest of us to be more careful and cautious with nuclear energy, which invariably affects the climate.
Work Cited
LaDuke, Winona. “Uranium Mining, Native Resistance, and the Greener Path.” Orion Magazine, 2009.