Australia’s Parliament reported on degrading effect of uranium mining on Aboriginal people
The1997 Australian parliament report observes: ‘(The) history of uranium mining in Australia and its impact on Aboriginal people is deplorable. Past mining in places like Rum Jungle have left areas so degraded that traditional owners are unable to use them, while mines such as Ranger (also in the Northern Territory) have been forced on traditional owners against their will.” “Even at mines such as Olympic Dam,” it adds, “…there was deep concern at the reckless degradation of sacred sites and insensitivity to their culture.”
Enough of Uranium Mining, Say Aboriginal Communities. Galdu. Resource Centre for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, August 2010, “……..For decades, uranium mining has been a touchy subject for Aboriginal people. Hundreds of Aboriginal communities were cleared out into cattle stations, towns and cities in the fifties and sixties, when Australian and British governments tested atomic weapons in the South Australian desert and off the coast of Western Australia. Continue reading
Uranium industry seeking Aboriginal backing
The Australian Uranium Association – Indigenous Leadership Scholarship August 13, 2010 The Australian uranium industry offers financial support for young Indigenous men and women undertaking tertiary study in areas relevant to uranium exploration and mining.
Nuclear AREVA’s uranium $billions, or Koongarra’s environmental richness?
AREVA is currently seeking legal advice…..Jeffery Lee is the senior custodian of the land and the sole member of the Djok Clan. He feels that the land would be better off with the National Park than with the uranium mining company
Uranium mining would then be banned in the wetlands Continue reading
Labor govt will back Aboriginal Jeffrey Lee against nuclear giant AREVA
if re-elected, Labor would accept Mr Lee’s offer to incorporate the 1228 hectares of environmentally sensitive land he owns into world heritage-listed Kakadu.The move would block plans by French nuclear energy giant Areva to extract 14,000 tonnes of uranium from its mineral leases in the area
Aboriginal custodian turns back on riches, The Age, LINDSAY MURDOCH, DARWIN, August 11, 2010 AN ABORIGINAL traditional owner who could have become one of Australia’s richest people if he had allowed uranium mining on his land near Kakadu National Park says he is not interested in money. Continue reading
Wongatha Aboriginal clan condemns uranium mining in Western Australia
“We don’t need uranium mining in this country,” says Wongatha leader and pastor Geoffrey Stokes. “We have sun, we’ve got wind, we’ve got people. Why should we pollute our country for money?”.
Australia’s aboriginal communities clamour against uranium mining‘ We don’t want to bequeath a legacy for future generations of a toxic environment’ say aboriginal clans in opposition to major uranium mining site opening in western Australia Jessie Boylan, guardian.co.uk, 9 August 2010. Continue reading
Aboriginals take Muckaty protest to Martin Ferguson’s electorate
Elders from Muckaty on Monday travelled to the seat of Batman in Melbourne’s north, calling for the waste dump to be stopped………….
Nuclear dump opposed by elders, Sydney Morning Herald, EDWINA SCOTTJuly 26, 2010 Aboriginal landowners have protested in Resources Minister Martin Ferguson’s electorate to oppose the establishment of Australia’s first radioactive waste dump on their land. Continue reading
Northern Territory Intervention forcing Aboriginals off their homelands
the worst impact of the intervention was to economically force people away from their country
Alice Springs convergence calls for Macklin’s resignation Alternative Media Group 15 July 2010, East Coast mob, friends from the south, elders and youngsters from all around Australia met in Alice Springs for four days last week to discuss and plan a way forward from the problems caused by the federal Intervention in Northern Territory communities. Continue reading
Forcing Aboriginals off their land in the interests of uranium mining
A monster has been created in our name called the Mining Industry, we all benefit from it, but not nearly as much as the Mining Magnates who run and control them. Our silence in the face of such blatant land grabs is no longer acceptable – we can no longer be innocent bystanders in our own country.
Terry Fitzpatrick Homily July 4 2010 NAIDOC WEEK » St Mary’s “……… ….Under the new Northern Territory Housing laws, and with the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act, Aboriginal people living on their own country who receive any form of Centrelink income support are being forced to give up their control of their land. Continue reading
Encouraging advice for Australian Govt and Nuclear Industry
Having Troubles with your local Aborigines? 20 Ways to Commit Publicly Acceptable Genocide
“……13, When Aboriginal people protest mining and development on their own land, tell them they don’t understand what’s good for them. Tell them that they should be grateful for radioactive pollution because it comes with a cheque from the mining company. Make sure the government doesn’t provide any services to areas with high Aboriginal populations. Allow the mining companies to promise a service infrastructure well below the national standard. Tell the Aborigines that without the mining company they will have nothing. Don’t be bothered if the mining company fails all promises. Set up an extra government department to look at Aboriginal services. Uset his money to subsidise another government department. Use the leftovers to subsidise the obligations of the mining company. Announce an increase in government funding on the needs of Aboriginal people, as though housing is a special need of Aborigines. Thank the mining company for caring for the community and contributing to the economy….” Adapted by Emma Heughan and Matt Fagan from an untitled article obtained from the internet dealing with the genocide of Native Americans.
Aboriginals’ welfare quarantining to provide land for uranium mining
What’s behind the NT intervention? | Green Left Weekly. July 3, 2010By Peter Robson, Continue reading
Aboriginal Summit’s challenge on ownership of “wild country”
New Way Summit: Aboriginals In Australia To Retake Lands – Indigenous Peoples Issues and Resources, 05 July 2010 “……The third meeting of the New Way Summit movement, initiated by Michael Anderson, heard that the Mabo judgment on Native Title was legal trickery, because hunting, gathering, walking on land, ceremonies on Country do not constitute a claim to legal title and ownership, whereas erecting fences, buildings and clearing of land does as an act of ‘adverse possession’.
Adverse possession is the means by which the colonizers asserts title to alleged ‘wild country’. Continue reading
Zane Alcorn speaks out: the uranium industry must go
Zane Alcorn, candidate for Newcastle , Green Left Weekly, 26 June 2010, We need to stand behind the first people of this country and fight for their land and cultural rights. The government’s so-called concern for Aboriginal welfare and living conditions is nothing but a cloak for a blatant land grab.The uranium-rich land of central Australia is coveted by government and private mining corporations alike. Aboriginal land rights are a direct threat to this potential source of huge wealth. Continue reading
Australian govt’s new trick to benefit nuclear industry
The NT intervention is clearly racist and is not motivated by concern for Aboriginal children but to enable government control of Aboriginal land…..Many Aboriginal communities have been forced to sign over their land on five-year leases to the federal government — land that contains gold, iron ore, uranium as well as areas that have been slated as potential nuclear waste dumps.
We are all in this together, Green Left Weekly, Ruth Ratcliffe June 20, 2010“…….The Rudd government plans to extend the paternalistic policy of welfare quarantining, which the Howard government initiated in remote Aboriginal communities, to other areas of disadvantage. Continue reading
Welfare quarantining in order to re-instate Racial Disrimination Act?
Racial discrimination act delayed as welfare rules extended * Patricia Karvelas * From: The Australian * June 22, 2010 THE Racial Discrimination Act, suspended for welfare quarantining in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities, will not be reinstated until December.Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said it would take some time for it to be fully reinstated after the government passed new laws to make income quarantining apply to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians….. Continue reading
W.A. Premier threatens compulsory Aboriginal land acquisition – gas now, uranium later?
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 