Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: Gibbons announces a Yucca summit

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Gibbons announces a Yucca summit

Gibbons announces a Yucca summit before inviting the participants

WASHINGTON — Gov. Jim Gibbons announced today he would be convening a Yucca Mountain summit.

That comes as news to some of the lawmakers potentially involved.

Gibbons wants to assemble Nevada’s congressional delegation, as well as state officials, in coming weeks to coordinate efforts to block the federal government’s proposed nuclear waste dump 90 miles north of Las Vegas.

“We must continue the fight against this ill-conceived project,” the governor said in a statement, “and I look forward to sitting down with everyone to ensure we’re doing everything we possibly can to protect health and economic well-being of all Nevadans.”

But most of the lawmakers in Washington had not yet been invited by the governor to the meeting.

Sen. John Ensign’s spokesman said the senator would hope to attend, if possible.

“Bringing everyone together on such an important issue to Nevada is worthy and will show a continued front against a flawed project based on the wrong policy for America,” said spokesman Tory Mazzola.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, a Democrat, “welcomes the Governor’s recognition that the Bush-McCain Yucca Mountain plan is a threat to Nevada families,” her spokesman David Cherry said, referring to the president and the presumed Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, who supports the dump.

The federal government this week submitted its application to build the dump to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a milestone of sorts for a long-delayed project. The submission sets up a potentially years-long battle between Nevada and the feds. Most Nevadans oppose locating the waste repository in their state.

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Public Statement by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (TurtleIsland). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshone dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message.

In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime.

Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.