Antinuclear

Protest at Olympic Dam against effects on Aborigines, water, pollution

Zane Alcorn said: “Not only is the expansion at Olympic Dam going ahead without the consent of traditional owners, but tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine.

Protesters block mine. Roxby Downs Sun, 22 Jul, 2010 Forty anti-nuclear activists staged a protest on Friday against the Olympic Dam expansion, blockading the entrance and stopping traffic from entering.

The protest aimed to highlight the “catastrophic effects” the mine and its expansion would have on traditional owners and their natural resources. Activists painted themselves blue and used their bodies to spell words such as water, with some people partly naked to help draw attention to their views.

One activist chained himself to a four-wheel-drive blocking the Olympic Dam entrance forcing traffic to be diverted and also stood in the path of a large truck…….

The group told The Roxby Downs Sun there was no need for uranium mining in Australia and Roxby Downs could produce endless renewable energy sources like solar energy or use wind farm technology as an eco-friendly alternative.

“This is a toxic mine, no one is safe,” activist Catrina Staurmberg said.

“Radioactive material does not discriminate. If the open-cut expansion or any kind of uranium mining continues it will put many lives at risk across the country. “For every tonne of uranium produced, 660 tonnes of radioactive tailings waste remains behind.

“At Olympic Dam it’s completely exposed enjoying the sunshine and is not safely contained, but out here in the outback, out of sight out of mind.”

Indigenous Solidarity Rides spokesman Zane Alcorn said: “Not only is the expansion at Olympic Dam going ahead without the consent of traditional owners, but tens of thousands of gigalitres of water per day is being sucked out of the Artesian Basin on Arabunna land to service the mine.

“Australia is the driest continent on the earth and faces a massive water shortage.

“It is ludicrous that we are literally exporting our sacred and precious water.”

Speaking about the livelihood of the workers should the mine close, Mr Alcorn said the workers could help with the mine shut down and be involved with the decontamination of the area to make their living in an eco-friendly way…………

……….I also acknowledge the non-violent nature of the protest by the activists and their attention to maintaining dialogue with police.” – Roxby Downs Police Sergeant Stuart Paxton

July 23, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Olympic Dam, Opposition to nuclear, South Australia, uranium | aboriginal, antinuclear, Australia, BHP, BHP Billiton, nuclear wastes, Olympic Dam, Opposition to nuclear, radioactive, South Australia, uranium