Locals in Osečná, north Bohemia, protest possibility of uranium mining

Around 300 people near Osečná, north Bohemia, have protested against possible uranium mining in the area. Local inhabitants, town representatives and environmentalists met at a protected 1000-year old linden tree in the village of Kotel to express their opposition. Protest organiser Josef Jadrný told Czech news agency ČTK that activists want to prevent first steps which could lead to uranium mining which could devastate nature in the Podještedí area. The protected site covers 10.5 square kilometres and could contain as much as 20,000 tonnes of uranium worth about 120 billion crowns (the equivalent of 6.8 billion US dollars). Activists have confirmed that a civic association is being established over the issue; participants have also promised to send a letter of protest to the Environment Ministry.