Antinuclear

South Australian govt warned by atomic test veteran not to expand nuclear industry

Maralinga British atomic test veteran warns State Government against nuclear expansion in SA, ABC News By Mike Sexton, 22 Aug 15 A veteran of the British atomic tests at Maralinga has warned the South Australian Government against flirting with a nuclear fuel cycle.

Avon Hudson served with the RAAF at Maralinga during the so-called minor trials when radioactive material including plutonium was atomised and, in the process, spread across the sandy desert country.

“It is alright when everything goes okay, but we know they don’t,” he said.

“If we get more and more nuclear power stations then the law of averages is we will see more accidents.” In the 1970s Mr Hudson became a whistleblower by going public with what he knew of the secret trials.

He also became an advocate for the servicemen who had been exposed to radiation during weapons testing in the 1950s and 60s.

He said the men were given little or no protection against the harmful exposure.

“I was handed over like a pick and shovel would be handed over for someone to do a job,” he said.

“[There were] no safeguards, no nothing.”

Mr Hudson estimated of the 8,000 Australian servicemen at Maralinga fewer than 500 remained alive today.

Now in his late seventies he is retired and living in the South Australian town of Balaklava, but continues to agitate against the use of nuclear energy and weapons……..Mr Hudson believed the dangers posed by nuclear energy outweighed the advantages, including the possibility of nuclear fuel being used to manufacture weapons……http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-20/veteran-warns-sa-government-against-nuclear-expansion/6711642

August 24, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, South Australia