Here’s a detailed letter that combines direct actions you can take and a strong message to policymakers. You can personalize it based on who you are sending it to.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
[Recipient's Name]
[Their Title]
[Office/Organization]
[Address]
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Mt. Taylor & Indigenous Communities from Uranium Mining
Dear [Recipient’s Name],
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action to prevent new uranium mining projects at Mt. Taylor, New Mexico, and other sacred and ecologically fragile lands in the Southwest. As you may know, uranium mining has left a devastating legacy of contamination, illness, and environmental destruction—particularly in Indigenous communities that continue to suffer from radioactive waste, polluted water sources, and unfulfilled cleanup promises.
Despite this history, new mining proposals threaten to repeat these injustices. Mt. Taylor is not just a mountain—it is a sacred site for the Diné (Navajo), Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and Hopi peoples. It also serves as a vital watershed and wildlife habitat. Allowing further uranium extraction would not only desecrate these lands but also expose communities to irreversible harm.
I am calling on you to take bold and immediate action by:
- Opposing any new uranium mining permits and pushing for permanent protections for Mt. Taylor under federal and state law.
- Holding mining companies accountable for past contamination and ensuring they are fully responsible for cleanup before any new projects are considered.
- Demanding that government agencies (EPA, BLM, NM Mining & Minerals Division) enforce stricter regulations on uranium extraction, including transparent consultation with Indigenous nations.
- Investing in long-term, sustainable alternatives that create jobs without harming land, water, and communities—such as clean energy, environmental restoration, and local economic development.
Beyond government action, I am personally committed to:
- Supporting Indigenous-led organizations like the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment (MASE) and Eastern Navajo Diné Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM).
- Educating others about the lasting harm of uranium mining and amplifying Indigenous voices.
- Participating in public hearings, submitting comments against mining permits, and engaging in direct actions when called upon by Native-led groups.
- Pressuring companies and investors to divest from uranium mining and instead support just transition initiatives.
This is a fight for environmental justice, public health, and Indigenous rights. I ask you to stand with those who have been resisting uranium mining for generations. We cannot afford to repeat history.
Please let me know where you stand on this urgent issue and what concrete steps you will take to prevent further uranium mining at Mt. Taylor and beyond. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]