Protect the Earth Summit on sulfide, uranium mining deemed successful

MARQUETTE -- Several media reports indicate that the Protect the Earth Summit held Aug. 2-3 in Marquette and at Eagle Rock was a success. This Summit to address the issue of hardrock sulfide mining and uranium mining in the U.P. consisted of workshops at Northern Michigan University, a rally with music and speakers on Presque Isle in Marquette and a walk to Eagle Rock, a site held sacred by Native Americans.

"Tribal representatives from around the Great Lakes attended and spoke to a crowd of 140 staunch supporters of the Yellow Dog Plains effort to oppose Kennecott mining on the plains," said Cynthia Pryor of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve in an email thanking participants and organizers. "It was full of energy, strength and resolve," Pryor added.

Gabriel Caplett of Yellow Dog Summer said the event, showing both diversity and unity among the local people, marked a turning point in the effort to protect land and water from sulfide and uranium mining.

"Protect the Earth proved that dangerous mining is not a done deal in the UP, Minnesota or anywhere, as long as communities are willing to work together," Caplett noted.*

* Editor's Note: Caplett was quoted by Save the Wild UP. See also the Marquette Mining Journal article, "Mine foes hold rally at Eagle Rock," by Miriam Moeller, Journal Staff writer.