Hunger striking Gramma goes home

[CBC News, 14 December] Donna Dillman, a 53-year-old Canadian grandmother, staged a 66-day hunger strike which she hoped would prompt a moratorium on uranium mining in the province of Ontario. However, she decided to end her hunger strike on 13 December, even though her protest did not result in the moratorium she hoped for. Her decision followed the announcement by the Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium, an eastern Ontario coalition, that it will fight her cause by holding public hearings into the health and environmental effects of uranium. Dillman said, "I'm happy that there's a decision made." During most of her hunger strike, Dillman survived only on juices and during the last few days drank only water. She spent the early part of her protest outside the gates of a prospective uranium mining site at Sharbot Lake. During her protest, Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty urged Dillman to eat properly for the sake of her own health. Dave Martin, a spokesman for
Greenpeace, said that the hunger strike brought a new level of awareness about the environmental problems associated with uranium mining. However, he added that although
Greenpeace supported Dillman's efforts, "We don't think she needs to die to achieve some real results in our cause."

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