Western Australian government preparing for repression of peaceful anti-nuclear protestors?
An extraordinary week for Australia’s democracy, and Australia’s anri-nuclear movement.
In Melbourne and Sydney, police crack down on peaceful protestors – with violence, and some police not wearing badges, which is illegal. Meanwhile, police travel to Perth, to join in preparations for the repression of a planned peaceful protest – a social justice movement encompassing many causes.
The causes include opposition to Australian governments’ subservience to multinational corporations, and Australia’s movement towards becoming the uranium-nuclear-radioactive waste hub of the world.
The walkers from Wiluna, 1400km away, will arrive, to celebrate our movement to stop uranium mining.
Will they be met with violent repression?
Australia has a grand tradition of peaceful protest. Yet, as the Western Australian police round up and prevent good, peace-oriented organisers from attending the protest – one must ask? Is the Western Australian government trying to bring about violence? What is happening to Australia’s civil liberties, as the greed of multinational nuclear corporations prevails over our democratic values? – Christina Macpherson
The “Occupy” and Anti Nuclear Movements meet and will succeed!
In the United States, the key is to deny the nuclear industry the federal funding without which it can’t build new reactors. …
Atomic energy is, after all, a means of centralizing power in corporate hands. But there is only so far the one-percenters can ride a dead horse, especially if it’s radioactive. ..
we want to guarantee our energy supply—even if it’s driven by the wind and sun—is controlled by the community, not the corporations.
And here is where Occupy/No Nukes can jump the power of democracy to a whole new level.
Where Occupy & No Nukes merge & win!!!, Harvey Wasserman October 23, 2011
The global upheaval that is the Occupy Movement is hopefully in the process of changing—and saving—the world. Through the astonishing power of creative non-violence, it has the magic and moxie to defeat the failing forces of corporate greed.
A long-term agenda seems to be emerging: social justice, racial and gender equality, ecological survival, true democracy, an end to war, and so much more. “When the power of love overcomes the love of power,” said Jimi Hendrix, “the world will know peace.”
Such a moment must come now in the nick of time, as the corporate ways of greed and violence pitch us to the precipice of self-extinction. At that edge sits a sinister technology, a poisoned cancerous power that continues to harm us all even as 3 of its cores melt and spew at Fukushima.
Atomic energy, the so-called “Peaceful Atom”, has failed on all fronts. Continue reading
CHOGM – Australia will not sell uranium to India
Uranium exports to India off agenda at CHOGM , Business Spectator, 25 Oct 2011 Prime Minister Julia Gillard has ruled out changing the government’s stance on uranium exports to India, ahead of likely discussions on the issue at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, according to The Australian newspaper.
According to the report, Ms Gillard said her position on the issue was unchanged as the developing nation is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“We do not have a policy that is particular about India but we do have a policy about the nuclear proliferation treaty,” she said….. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Uranium-exports-to-India-off-agenda-at-CHOGM-pd20111025-MXU9H?opendocument&src=rss
Western Australian govt will be cracking down on anti nuclear and other peaceful protestors
Barnett’s jail threat to human rights activist, SMH Courtney Trenwith, October 24, 2011 – A Perth protester says he has been officially threatened with jail if he enters a CBD exclusion zone during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting week. Seamus Doherty said WA Police notified him this morning that he was named on an excluded persons’ list and faced up to a year in jail if he entered designated security areas…..
“Naturally we’re worried about what we’ve seen in Sydney and Melbourne. No one can look at the footage of what the police actions were and say it was reasonably or justified actions by police.
“We’ve always said that our protest is a peaceful protest. All we’re planning to do is exercise our democratic right to assemble.”….”It is outrageous that non-violent, human-rights activists should suffer this kind of treatment by WA authorities.”..Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/barnetts-jail-threat-to-human-rights-activist-20111024-1mfpc.html#ixzz1bpHdO3Q1
CHOGM powers to haul in kids has watchdog snarling, THE AUSTRALIAN, BY:DEBBIE GUEST , October 20, 2011 THE inspector of Western Australia’s powerful corruption watchdog is worried about extraordinary police powers granted for next week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The new laws — which take effect in Perth from today until November 5 — will allow police to haul children as young as 16 before a Corruption and Crime Commission examination…. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/chogm-powers-to-haul-in-kids-has-watchdog-snarling/story-e6frgczx-1226171
Interstate police officers arrive in Perth for CHOGM, ABC News Newcastle 19 Oct 11, “……Two planes carrying officers from South Australia and New South Wales arrived at Perth airport this afternoon. Those officers were the first of more than 700 extra police from across Australia and New Zealand who will arrive in the next few days for CHOGM…. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-19/chogm-police-arrive-in-perth/3579850/?site=newcastle
Heavy handed police action against “Occupy Sydney”
Occupy Sydney Shut Down – But Not Over, New Matilda By Lauren Carroll Harris, 25 Oct 11 “……. Then came Sunday. The until-now peaceful occupation was raided by riot police — many without name badges — at 5am when the CBD was empty and the media asleep. Unlike Friday’s Melbourne assault, campers were given only a few minutes warning. Police rummaged and through many protesters’ belongings. Forty people were arrested and four were charged. Otherwise, there was the unprovoked brutality that many activists expect: bloody noses, elbows to the neck and the like…..
Occupy is not merely a stand-alone demonstration or delayed response to the corporate greed that led to the global financial crisis, but part of a longer continuum of social justice. …. http://newmatilda.com/2011/10/24/occupy-sydney-shut-down-not-over
Silex solar project loss, and laser uranium enrichment problems
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been happy about Silex Systems getting government backing for its solar project. I know that these nuclear-related companies like to have a bet each way – in case the nuclear industry goes pear-shaped.
But it seems to me that there’s not much incentive for them to develop renewable energy, when their real stuff is in the nuclear industry. As with Silex’s dangerous laser enrichment technology – now being used by GE Hitachi in America. And there are questions there – with the American facility having 45 security violations! -Christina Macpherson
Silex downplays $30 million loss, A,BC News, 25 Oct 11 A company developing a major solar project in north-west Victoria says it is in a strong financial position, despite posting a $30 million loss in the past year.
Silex is developing power stations near Mildura using photovoltaic technology. The company has posted its annual report, including a net loss of $31.5 million….. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-24/silex-posts-30m-loss/3597688
Secrecy and security violations in Silex laser uranium enrichment technology
NRC fines GE-Hitachi $45K over NC nuke test site, October 21, 2011 Bloomberg By EMERY P. DALESIO, RALEIGH, N.C. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has fined GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy $45,000 for multiple security violations at a North Carolina facility using classified technology to test whether lasers can be used to enrich uranium. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 