Radioactive waste and the Australian Labor Party
The event is the premiere showing of a photo exhibition by Jagath Dheerasekara titled Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud, which documents the people and place targeted to host the radioactive waste facility. The photo project is supported by Amnesty International, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning (UTS) and the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (Sydney University). – more information on this exhibition at http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/ and at (video) http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/4118/description/0/0
Hot Politics: Radioactive waste and the ALP, Radioactive waste management in Australia will be under the spotlight this weekend at the Australian Labor Party (ALP) national conference being held at Darling Harbour.
Against a backdrop of growing community concern and action the Beyond Nuclear Initiative is hosting an important conference event at 7pm on Saturday December 3. The Hot Politics: Radioactive Waste Management in Australia forum and photo exhibition will take place at the Mori Gallery at 168 Day Street, five minutes walk from the Darling Harbour Convention Centre.
Hot Politics will be hosted by well-known journalist Jeff McMullen. Speakers include United Voice NT Secretary Matthew Gardiner, Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes and Shine Social Justice Practice Counsel George Newhouse, who is involved in a Federal Court challenge to the Muckaty plan.
Federal Resources Minister Ferguson’s continued push to build a national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, 120km north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, faces resistance from Traditional Owners and the NT Government and increasing scrutiny from trade unions and national civil society groups.
“This event is occurring against a backdrop of heightened community awareness of nuclear issues”, said BNI coordinator Natalie Wasley. “The ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear reactors and opposition to the controversial uranium sales to India plan have brought Australia’s role in the nuclear industry to the forefront of political debate”.
Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes has travelled from Tennant Creek to speak at the event. “We have been talking about that waste dump for so long, it is about time we are listened to. Elders have been struggling to say we don’t want the waste dump to come to our land. It is a long hard struggle for the Traditional Owners of Muckaty. We want to get the voices out there so people know that we are still fighting against the waste dump and we are telling Martin Ferguson that we are very strong on it. We are still fighting and we have a fight waiting at the other end for him.”
“I came here for the photo exhibition about Muckaty. Hopefully I can get through to people and to Martin Ferguson that we do not want the nuclear waste dump. I am getting better at learning to speak up for my country. They might not listen but I hope they do, ” added Muckaty Traditional Kylie Sambo, a young hip-hop artist who won the ABC Heywire award 2010 for her track ‘Muckaty’.
The event is the premiere showing of a photo exhibition by Jagath Dheerasekara titled Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud, which documents the people and place targeted to host the radioactive waste facility. The photo project is supported by Amnesty International, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning (UTS) and the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (Sydney University).
“Radioactive waste lasts a lot longer than any politicians promise,” said Australian Conservation Foundation nuclear free campaigner Dave Sweeney. “We need a mature and honest assessment of the problem and the options, not the discredited dump and run approach being promoted by Minister Ferguson. This forum is an important step in the growing push for a better way of doing dirty business”.
No comments yet.
1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
Leave a Reply