Nuclear vets class action, then mysterious closure of their website

Coober Pedy Regional Times Maralinga Anniversary October 15, 1953 – 1967 and nuclear veteran’s website is closed down.

Only a few weeks ago, the Australian veterans of the atomic tests launched a class action against the Australian Federal Government on the basis that at the time of exposing Australian troops to nuclear blasts the Government knew that the exposed troops were placed in danger from internalisation of fission products. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, secrets and lies | antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, radioactive, secrets and lies | Leave a comment

Olympic Dam uranium mine jobs at risk

Workers fear lay-offs as they wait for repairs

Sydney Morning Herald BARRY FITZGERALD

October 15, 2009

There have been no lay-offs among the 3000 employees and contractors at BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam copper, uranium and gold mine in South Australia after the loss of 80 per cent of the underground mine’s hoisting capacity.

But with speculation continuing that the Clark shaft could take up to six months to repair, fears are growing in the outback town that services the mine, Roxby Downs, that BHP could soon be forced to resort to a skeleton workforce.

BHP is still not commenting on the likely impact of the October 6 incident and will not confirm reports that the 850-metre Clark shaft was knocked out of action when a fully loaded ore skip crashed. Automated ore-loading equipment at the bottom of the shaft and winding gear – including a four-kilometre cable – on the surface were damaged………….Leading analysts have tipped that the Clark shaft could be inoperative for between two and six months. The Clark shaft accounts for about 80 per cent of the 10 million tonne-a-year mining operation. http://www.smh.com.au/business/workers-fear-layoffs-as-they-wait-for-repairs-20091014-gxic.html

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | business, South Australia, uranium | antinuclear, Australia, BHP, BHP Billiton, nuclear, South Australia, uranium | Leave a comment

Maralinga atomic test site unsafe, aborigines affected

Coober Pedy Regional Times Maralinga Anniversary October 15, 1953 – 1967 and nuclear veteran’s website is closed down. “…………..October 15 is the anniversary of the first nuclear test at Maralinga, Totem 1.– the beginning of atomic testing in Australia 1953 – 1967, and the contamination of traditional Kokatha Lands in the Western Desert of South Australia. The Action Australia page on the ANVAR website contained the details. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | South Australia, uranium, weapons and war | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, indigenous, Maralinga, nuclear, nuclear wastes, nuclear weapons, radioactive, South Australia, uranium | 1 Comment

Aborigines further limited in dealing with mining companies

Appeal quashing ‘will hurt indigenous’

WA Today October 15, 2009

A High Court decision to quash an appeal by indigenous people against a company run by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest will limit the rights of indigenous people to negotiate with mining companies, an Aboriginal corporation says. Continue reading →

October 16, 2009 Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, legal, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, uranium | Leave a comment