Uranium Fever or The People Vs. Cognitive Dissonance: A Call to Action

A few years ago, I was sitting at my desk on a Zoom call listening to a group of concerned citizens, city leaders and environmental organizations (hence forth I will refer to them as “the people”) making their points against the opposition: an energy company who was in the midst of launching a campaign to reopen a uranium extraction mine only 13 miles from Grand Canyon National Park. The people were there to argue in favor of immediate closure and remediation. The company, well, you know, thought it would be a good idea to get things moving again- it had been idling “on standby” for years after all…and times, they were a changin’…

The company, Energy Fuels Resources, whose “Pinyon Plain” mine (re-branded from the former “Canyon Mine” to secure better PR) is located on a parcel of land leased out by the United States Forest Service, was granted access to the site long before the Department of the Interior established a 20-year withdrawal on new mining claims throughout the region. Because they were grandfathered in, they could continue to operate despite the 20-year rule. To extract the uranium, a well had been dug 1,500 feet into the earth, coming dangerously close to aquifers which feed into Grand Canyon’s water system. To date, millions of gallons of “safe levels” (depending on who you’re talking to) of uranium-tainted water have overflowed from the mine, which are mitigated by a sketchy-looking system of retention ponds and pumps which spray the water into the air where anyone within 20 feet of them can feel the mist. Birds drink from these ponds, and presumably so do lizards, snakes, rodents and any other creatures who are able to get past the chain link fence. Not to mention, the site, which is surrounded by its namesake pinyon trees and high desert scrub, has been used by Indigenous people of the Grand Canyon region for seasonal gathering and other ceremonial purposes for eons.

The people argued, with a heavy helping of scientific data suggesting imminent risk plus a re-telling of the region’s sad cancer-inducing mining history (which has affected countless families across generations, most of which are located within the Navajo Nation), was simply not acceptable.

And yet, the company’s representatives bumbled away with their absurd justifications for resuming operations. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they had the gall to proclaim (with a straight face, no less) that the mine was safe, their science was sound, even though it hadn’t been updated since the 80s, plus, they argued- think about the jobs it will bring to the area!

It was insulting, really. Never mind that the people have been opposed to the mine since its inception 40 years ago. They’ll give up eventually, right?

That’s some rank b.s. First of all, anyone who has been around the west long enough knows that these companies, many of which are foreign-owned, love to lie about jobs. The sad fact is that these mines require highly trained professionals, and not that many of them, especially on a small site like Pinyon Plain. Not too many locals tend to benefit. These companies already have their employees. Beyond that, once they’ve made their millions (Energy Fuels estimated their mine held $29 million in value) from raping our public lands, of which they lease for peanuts (literally a few bucks an acre) thanks to the outdated Mining Act of 1872, there’s the eventual clean-up and closure, which guess what-tends to fall on the American taxpayer, if leadership even puts it on their to-do list. I mean, what are they going to get out of it? Amirite? The whole thing is practically built for corporate exploitation. Never mind the fallout.

Case in point-after many decades, hundreds of mines remain unmitigated and dangerous (i.e radioactive) to the communities that live near them, most of which, I reiterate, are Native American.

Grand Canyon is no different in that sense. Beyond the park’s visitors and employees (not to mention its famed wildlife) who rely on clean water, miles below the rim, are the Havasupai (which translates into “people of the blue-green waters”) tribe. For years-generations now- they have voiced their opposition to the mine. If their water becomes contaminated, what will become of them and their unique way of life? Their simple village, situated among breathtaking waterfalls and highly adapted plant life, is what sustains them.  Like every other Indigenous tribe, they understand that “water is life.” Without it, well, ‘nuf said.

The idea of contaminating (or even toying around with anything that could potentially contaminate) the very thing that gives life goes against all logic and science- but here we are. Still crazy after all these years. You know what they say, fuck around and find out, as it were. Sadly, the ones who suffer are always the innocent bystanders.

When will we finally learn?

After the Zoom call, and the following 2-month public comment period, Energy Fuels got its way. The mine was to reopen and commence extraction operations. Despite the fact that at the time, uranium was not considered a “critical mineral.” In fact, during President Biden’s term, it was to be removed from the list of critical minerals. My, how things have changed. It does makes one wonder, doesn’t it? If not, then it should.

How did Energy Fuels end up winning? Obviously science and data did not apply to this situation. If it did, well, I wouldn’t be writing this. Something else, dare I say nefarious, must have taken place in the bowels of the political beast. After all, money is power and all that. But I digress…sigh.

No-wait a minute. I forgot the whole point-to educate! Maybe, just maybe, you will read this and wonder- did you yourself somehow play a role in all of this? How could you have possibly?

Well, it all boils down to politics-duh. If you follow the moolah, you will be able to find who is in support of these dastardly practices and who is not. Who is out there lobbying for nuclear energy? Are you voting for these people? Why? What have you been told and why do you believe it?

How do you even find out? Here’s a phrase you’ve likely heard lately- energy dominance. It’s catchy. It sounds good. But unfortunately it’s misleading. Again, it’s all about money and power if you dig deeply enough.

Uranium as metaphor

If you don’t know, uranium is a key component for the chemical reactions that make nuclear power possible. People love to say that nuclear power is a good thing (energy independence!), but let’s be real- Chernobyl anyone? How about Fukushima? I rest my case. Oh, by the way, does anyone know what happens to nuclear waste? It’s the stuff of nightmares.

I think about this uranium stuff often,  because it points to a larger problem that has yet to be solved. It is a modern-day parable of never-ending woe. It is also a metaphor for the gross level of ignorance that is ultimately holding us all hostage from a reality that could be so much better. I don’t mean to sound utopian or myopic, but I have given this a lot of thought. Things really could be better, at least, I think so.

Ok, I am going to finally get to the point:

As the famous astrophysicist Carl Sagan once said, “We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology."

Hardly anyone are the operative words. Those that do, well, they tend to use it for their own gain. Or shall I say, those that become aware of it tend to bully those who truly understand it into using it for evil purposes. Take poor ol’ Oppenheimer, he was just a scientist having a good time exploring particle physics until the military coerced him into designing the atomic bomb. It’ll be great, they said. “I am become death,” he said.

That’s just one example. You can probably think of more.

The way this is all playing out today? Well, just look at our military budget- d’oh! Some things never change. But “they” don’t want you to know about all of that. Just keep scrolling on. We are being protected right? Well, I mean, maybe, but what does that even mean? Even more importantly, who cares about blatant abuses of power when there are adorable kittens and puppies and silly tik toks to admire in between memes that reinforce our backwards beliefs? Oh us silly humans. The algorithm knows us all too well…and it’s got us all by the gonads. Well, perhaps that’s incorrect to a certain extent…

I mean, we could educate ourselves if we wanted to. By we I mean the people who still watch or follow certain “news” channels that were debunked back in the early aughts in a little film called “Outfoxed.” But you know what they say, ignorance is bliss. Who cares about understanding how things like news filtration actually work? “They” will tell you that the AP, the source from which all other news springs forth, is “slanted.” All because someone at some point decided to twist the concept of an article being “edited for length and clarity” as proof of fake news. You know what they say about empty cans right?

But it’s oh-so-easy to believe because of that good ol’ impassioned speech. I mean, it sounds true, so it must be true, right? Or not.

These trying times…

With that thought in mind, I implore you to please, look deep within yourself and ask yourself if these times we are living in make any sense to you. Do you really understand what’s going on and how we got here? Do you believe what you see and hear on the news? Is that the real story? Why? Is it because the people around you think so? If so, that’s not always the right answer. If something doesn’t sit right with you, there is always a reason.

Maybe you heard something contrary to what you normally believe, and now you’ve got a big ol’ bee in your bonnet about it. Maybe you’ve seen the protests. Maybe your news source says it’s terrorism. Maybe you’re not so sure. Your friends seem to think otherwise. Maybe you’re feeling confused and alienated. There is a reason for everything.

Cognitive dissonance

Oftentimes, the things our political, religious or community affiliations say and do can create a sense of what is called cognitive dissonance. In other words, you know, deep down, that some of the things people around you are saying and doing are wrong, but you find ways to justify them, or you lie to yourself and go along with it all, because it is easier than being at odds with the people and things that make you, well, you. You do what you do to help you sleep better at night. But you just can’t stop that nagging feeling nonetheless.

At this point I want to assure you that I know I sound extremely preachy and perhaps like I’m atop of a gigantic high horse. But I have to get this out. This is where my own cognitive dissonance has to draw the line. I feel I must lead by example and by that I mean speaking my mind. I know not everyone will agree with me and that’s ok. Just please don’t be a dick about it.

With that in mind, I will refer you once again to the first paragraph of this section and ask again about your feelings on the current political climate. I will leave you with this anecdote:

I (an ideological apolitical yet registered independent & reluctantly left-leaning yet centrist-principled person) once attended a republican club meeting as part of my job when I was a news reporter. I asked the group leader if there was room for democrats & republicans to meet in the middle on some of the issues that were being discussed in the meeting (mainly pertaining to drug abuse and trafficking). His response, very matter-of-factly, was that sometimes people switch sides when an issue matters to them and the other side has an idea about how they want to fix it that sounds better to them. Then they will likely come back to the side they were on before. He understood that sometimes the issues we face transcend our tried-and-true affiliations, if only for a little while. That is what I am getting at.

Let’s consider our sources. Let’s consider our actions, and our own cognitive dissonance, and ask ourselves if we can do better, and what this might require. Are we up to it? What will happen if we keep on keeping on the way we are? Why don’t we care more?

The 98%

With all of that being said, it comes down to this: It doesn’t matter what your politics are-put all of that aside for a moment and consider the fact that if you are reading this you are the 98%. You are the little people, and no matter what you do, you will never be as big as a big company.  They don’t know me. I’m too small. But you do. If you’re still reading this, please finish.

In your own life, you are not above reproach- your actions have consequences- so who do these big companies think they are? These guys and gals own the politicians that are the reason for all of these protests right now. You know who I’m talking about. Don’t make me say their names. Those in power, pulling all the strings, watching us all scramble around like little ants while they manipulate everything in their own favor- it’s all part of the great sideshow of life. They are laughing at us. Remember that. Divide and conquer. This is what they want.

Remember, if someone tells you uranium is good, they are talking out of their peach crease. If you understand your subject matter, you can suss out bullshit in a heartbeat. Educate yourself. It is the only way you will ever be able to do your best for the world we live in, and ultimately yourself.

Thank you for reading.

© Lo Frisby, 2025.

P.s. If you are concerned about policies which have significant potential to cause permanent harm to our public lands (such as the removal of Environmental Impact Studies for new mining and logging leases) please consider donating to Sierra Club by clicking the link below.