Clean Up the Mines! (CUTM) is a national advocacy campaign dedicated to addressing abandoned uranium mines across the United States. The campaign seeks to pass federal legislation aimed at conducting health and environmental impact studies, educating the public about the dangers of treating contaminated areas, and compensating individuals affected by radiation-related health issues. In addition to legislative goals, Clean Up the Mines! advocates for public oversight, government transparency, and long-term accountability in the cleanup and restoration process. ¹

Clean Up the Mines! (CUTM) is a campaign of Popular Resistance, a fiscally sponsored project of Alliance for Global Justice. Popular Resistance is a left-of-center organization operated by Green Party activists. ²

History

Clean Up the Mines! was formed in 2014 within the Red Shirt Village located in the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota. The group claimed to advocate on the approximately 10,000 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) across the United States. Initiated through a coalition of grassroots organizations, the campaign began with site visits and radiation testing to monitor high contamination levels in local communities caused by the sites such as school playgrounds and water sources. ³

Financials

Clean Up the Mines! is a campaign of Popular Resistance, a fiscally sponsored project of Alliance for Global Justice. Alliance for Global Justice is an organizing nonprofit that serves as a fiscal sponsor to left-wing initiatives. ⁴ In 2024, the Alliance for Global Justice reported total revenue of $6,707,856 and total expenses of $8,818,230, resulting in a deficit of $2,110,374. The majority of its income came from contributions, which totaled $6,428,828 and accounted for 95.8 percent of revenue. ⁵

Programs and Activities

Clean Up the Mines! engages in public education, grassroots organizing, site investigations, and legislative advocacy to address the dangers of abandoned uranium mines. The campaign conducts radiation testing in affected communities, raises awareness through rallies and media events, and collaborates with tribal nations, environmental groups, and public health advocates. It also works to pressure lawmakers to enact legislation that mandates cleanup, health studies, and compensation for impacted residents. Public actions have included warning sign installations, outreach tours in hazmat suits, and community forums to amplify local voices. ³

Leadership

Margaret Flowers is the co-director of Popular Resistance, the fiscally sponsored project that launched the Clean Up the Mines! campaign. ⁶ Flowers is a member of the Green Party. ⁷

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3. “National Campaign Launched to Clean Up ‘America’s Secret Fukushima,’” Popular Resistance, April 23, 2014, https://popularresistance.org/national-campaign-launched-to-clean-up-americas-secret-fukushima/, accessed June 22, 2025.
4. Alliance for Global Justice. “Fiscal Sponsorship Program.” Accessed June 22, 2025. https://afgj.org/fsp
5. ProPublica. “Alliance for Global Justice.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed June 22, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522094677.
6. “Margaret Flowers,” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-flowers-41125323/, accessed June 22, 2025.
7. “Dr. Margaret Flowers,” Green Party of the United States, https://www.gp.org/dr_margaret_flowers, accessed June 22, 2025.