Uranium companies pressuring Aboriginals in Australia’s Kimberly region
Green group on ‘uranium awareness’ tour » Kimberley Page, 10 June 2010, Uranium Awareness Community Forums planned for July While the proposed construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at James Price Point attracts widespread media attention, an increase in uranium exploration is underway and under the radar in the Kimberley.
Presently there are numerous uranium tenements covering the Kimberley . This spike in activity is the result of the Barnett Government’s move to overturn the long-standing ban on uranium exploration and development held by the previous Labor Government.Already Traditional Owners across the Kimberley are under pressure to allow exploration activities. Meanwhile uranium companies are talking in glowing terms about the Kimberley as Australia’s new uranium province.
People are concerned and seeking independent information on the impacts of this controversial sector. Against this background the Australian Conservation Foundation, with the support of Environs Kimberley and the WA Conservation Council are organising the Kimberley Uranium Awareness Community Forums.
ACF’s Kimberley Program Officer, Paul Marshall, says the Forums will visit Kununurra, Halls Creek, Billiluna, Fitzroy Crossing, Looma, Derby and Broome over ten days starting 7th July.
“We know the uranium exploration companies are very active in the Kimberley, and we know that they have been presenting a very one-sided picture about uranium mining and its likely impact on the health of people and the environment”, Mr Marshall said.
“The Uranium Awareness Community Forums aim to give people the opportunity to hear from those that have first hand experience of uranium mining in their community”, he said. “Among the presenters will be Aboriginal leaders from the Northern Territory and South Australia who live with the impacts of uranium mining on their communities”.
No comments yet.
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 
Leave a comment