Remembering an Inspiring Nuclear Abolitionist

Dorothy Purley, whose family and community in New Mexico have been devastated by uranium mining , died Dec. 2. She had struggled against aggressive cancers, and the greed for nuclear weapons and power that caused them, by meeting and speaking with people across the United States and in Japan. When hospitalization due to cancer prevented her from traveling to Europe last April as part of the Global Hibakusha delegation to the Hague Appeal for Peace conference, her daughter came in her place and read Dorothy's statement, an abridged version of which appears below. A church funeral for Dorothy Purley was held Dec. 5 and a traditional Pueblo ceremony on Dec. 8. Mourners reported that at her funeral, a flight of cranes passed overhead, circled, and returned.

Good Afternoon,

My name is Dorothy Purley. I am a Native American Pueblo Indian from a reservation where the US government forced my ancestors to live so many years ago. The early European settlers forced us off our lands and claimed them for their own. We were finally placed in areas that were usually uninhabitable. What the government did not realize was that these areas were rich in natural resources. The community where I live is called the Laguna Pueblo. It is where the world's largest open pit uranium mine once was.

In 1935 when the mine first opened, it was truly a godsend to my poor native people. We have always lived in poverty, which seems to be a government standard for Native American Indians. The money that was earned enabled us to feed our families and for the first time become independent. Yes, times were good back then. But what the government forgot to tell us was that the uranium was dangerous. They did not tell us that it would also bring death and destruction to others.

Our village was just 1000 feet from the mining area. We could smell the sulfur and other blasting compounds that they used in their explosives. They usually conducted their blasts during our noontime and evening meals, when our village women would dry their fruits and vegetables during the harvest season. A fine layer of dust would cover our food, but we simply rinsed it off, not knowing that it was toxic.

In 1975, now a single parent, I was employed at the Anaconda Uranium mine as a truck driver and hauled high grade uranium ore to the milling site. I was exposed to high amounts of radiation although I did not know this at that time. We would eat our lunches while sitting atop of the high grade ore. We were never advised of any safety techniques or given any safety equipment. I never realized that there was any danger and was never advised about any of the harmful effects of radiation.

Just recently, our tribe has learned that the government and the mining operation knew about the danger that mining uranium ore would bring. As early as 1935 when the mine first opened, there were scientific documents warning them to minimize exposure to uranium ore, and saying that people could not be exposed more than two weeks without potential harm. I worked at the mine for eight years. Some of my people retired after 30 years at the mine.

Today my people on the Laguna reservation are suffering from numerous effects of radiation poisoning. We have seen a rise in mental and physical abnormalities. Our cancer rate is rapidly increasing. I myself have been fighting cancer for six years now. I have gone through high dose chemotherapy on three different occasions. When I am in better health, I travel as much as possible. I try to help people understand that there is extreme danger where there is radiation. I use my family as an example of what can happen.

Just recently my daughter's husband was diagnosed with a rare skin cancer. Although he never worked at the uranium mine he was exposed to radiation in many ways. His older brother worked for the underground mine, and dust from his clothing would contaminate their household. My son-in-law also lived next to the railroad which carried the radioactive high grade ore to the mill site. The distance of 60 miles or more alongside the tracks is still highly contaminated to this day. Many more of my people will become ill with cancer and other rare diseases as time goes on. I pray every day that such devastation will never again occur on my beautiful sacred lands.

My greatest hope is that mankind will realize that we need to keep our Earth Mother as healthy as we can. I know that there are better ways to produce power by using solar energy, the wind and water. These are natural powers which our Great Spirit has given. We were meant to use these.

They never told us that they were going to use this uranium to make weapons of mass destruction. The company never gave us any information whatsoever. I strongly believe that we do not need any more nuclear weapons. There are never any winners of war, only victims. We do not need anymore deaths and destruction in our world. We have had enough already. The only true way to live is through peace and harmony. My hope is that by sharing my story, that it will inspire others to make better decisions for themselves and their loved ones. I wish you long life, peace, and happiness. Thank you.

Messages of condolence and needed contributions toward funeral expenses and to continue Dorothy's work to eliminate nuclear weapons and nuclear power generation can be sent to her daughter Carletta Garcia, 12608 Copper, N.E., Apartment 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87123, USA

De-alert Nuclear Weapons for Y2K; send faxes to presidents Clinton & Yeltsin, & to US Secretary of Defense William Cohen, demanding that they follow the example of the UK & take all nuclear warheads off "hairtrigger alert" before the Y2K rollover; fax Clinton at 202/456-2461; fax Cohen at 703/695-1149; fax Yeltsin at 7-095-205-4330; for sample letters, email Friends of the Earth Sydney at nonnukes@foesyd.org.au or visit their website at homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd