Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

All aboriginal land in Australia really controlled by whites

UN SUBMISSION- ABORIGINAL PEOPLE BECOMING REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN LAND
by Michael Anderson, leader of the Euahlayi Nation of northwest NSW and southwest Queensland and elected spokesman of the 16 tribes in the Gumilaroi nation

September 7, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Uranium mining hype about aborigines

Christina Macpherson 3 Sept 09a-cat-CAN

As the commercial nuclear industry founders, uranium corporations hurry to expand their hype, while there’s still time. Continue reading

September 3, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Review: Uranium, wastes, racism, nuke costs

a-cat-CANReview of past week. by Christina Macpherson 2 Sept 09 Australia: Yeelirree uranium mine. W.A govt is not adequately assessing Environmental Review. Ferguson’s continued silence on federal govt’s plans for NT nuclear waste dump, Calls for NT to become “wildly rich” with nuclear power, despite the worldwide decline in commercial nuclear power. UN human rights expert James Anaya criticises Australia’s racist intervention in NT. Capd York aborigines keen for wind farm project. Uranium spot prices stay down.

Internationally: Hanford and other US nuclear fear they’ll become USA’s nuke waste dump. Finland’s Olkiluoto-3 nuclear reactor’s costs skyrocket, as AREVA takes court action against Finnish company. In Africa, nuclear electricity company makes record loss.

September 2, 2009 Posted by | Christina reviews, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

UN expert on Australia’s racism

UN says indigenous intervention is discriminatory, racism entrenched in Australia

THE AUSTRALIAN By Julian Drape | August 27, 2009

Article from:  Australian Associated Press

THE United Nations special rapporteur on indigenous rights says the intervention into remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory is clearly discriminatory, and that there is “entrenched” racism in Australia. Continue reading

August 28, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL | , , | Leave a comment

Aboriginals back Cooktown wind project

Indigenous backing for Cooktown wind project

ABC News By Siobhan Barry

Aug 12, 2009

Traditional owners have signed an agreement with US company National Power to build a wind farm south of Cooktown on Cape York in far north Queensland. Continue reading

August 28, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, Queensland | , , , | Leave a comment

Beverly Four Mile uranium mine- “world’s worst practice”

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Uranium mine called ‘World’s worst practice’

The Flinders News 21/08/2009

Uranium mining in the far north of South Australia at the Beverley location near Arkaroola Wilderness Resort is being openly challenged by Aboriginal Traditional Owner Mrs Enice Marsh. Continue reading

August 22, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ferguson: we choose nuclear waste dump site first, and consult afterwards

Govt won’t consult on nuclear waste site
WA Today Tara Ravens * August 21
, 2009 –
Environmentalists are outraged federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson will not consult before deciding on the location of a nuclear waste dump site and have accused him of seeking a “short-term political fix” to the issue. Continue reading

August 22, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, civil liberties, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Govt and media silence on uranium/nuclear issues

a-cat-CANby Christina Macpherson 10 August 09 Almost 4000 submissions were received by the South Australian government, in response to BHPBilliton’s Environmental Impact Statement on their plan to create the world’s biggest hole, and biggest uranium tailings pile at Roxby Downs.

This momentous proposal has barely got a mention in the mainstream media.

The Australian government and the mainstream media seem to be coyly ignoring big questions of the moment. The Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs) uranium mine expansion is just one of them.

Also behind the scenes, machinations are going on between uranium/nuclear corporations and government to quiettly condition the Australian public, and particularly the aboriginal community, to the idea that a nuclear waste dump is a fine thing, and that nuclear power plants swill inevitably come in Australia

August 10, 2009 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, secrets and lies, uranium | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aborigines stand up to BHP Billiton on damage to their resources

(Australian- about iron ore, OK – but implications for uranium) –

Lore of the land as Aborigines take on BHP

The Age Jan Mayman 3 August 09
If the mining warden agrees to hear their case, they will call a series of expert witnesses, including WA’s 2009 scientist of the year, Professor Jorg Imberger, a world authority on hydrology, as well as elders to explain their fears. They are especially concerned by the cumulative impact of mining on the Pilbara’s water resources,…………..

………As mining plunges deep below the water table, with huge volumes of water pumped out to expose the orebody, the traditional owners are profoundly disturbed by the impact on underground aquifers that feed springs, billabongs and waterholes all over the region……………..

Counsel for the mining company, Perth barrister Peter Quinlan, argued that human rights and public interest issues were irrelevant to the mining lease applications………………

……….WA’s Native Title Act had been repeatedly criticised by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Human Rights Committee as being discriminatory and not adequately protective of indigenous land rights.

Lore of the land as Aborigines take on BHP

August 3, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, uranium, Western Australia | , , , | Leave a comment

Uranium mining company jumps the gun at Beverly 4 Mile in South Australia,

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Traditional Owners call for immediate halt to uranium operations at Beverley 4 Mile

Coober Pedy Regional Times 28 July 09

Traditional Aboriginal owners of the country that includes the Beverley 4 Mile uranium deposit are outraged with mining operations having commenced prior to the completion of State and Federal approvals processes.

Last week Traditional Owners visiting the site were greeted by new fences and locked gates. They were advised by company representatives that future visits would require company consent and supervision as the mining site was ‘already operational’.

Community members  believe the company has pre-empted the Australian approvals process as Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has not yet approved a Monitoring and Management plan, a Mine Closure plan and a Community Engagement plan, all of which are required prior to the start of mining works at Beverley 4 Mile.

Similarly Petratherm announced the commencement of drilling without community consultation being satisfied and without a Risk Assessment being obtained to satisfy community concerns of their intentions  regarding chemicals use and contaminated waste disposal procedures.

“On the 4 Mile a number of important South Australian Aboriginal heritage assessment processes are also currently unfinished or incomplete.  This was not the deal.   The company has jumped the gun. Our community is being left out and our concerns are being ignored,” said Adnyamathanha elder Enice Marsh.

“We want the Federal and State governments to make this company stop work now.”

Traditional Owners and custodians are deeply saddened and angered by the position taken by the mining company  Quasar Resources, an affiliate of the US weapons and nuclear energy corporation General Atomics ……………..

BEVERLEY 4 MILE CLOSURE DEMAND AS MINERS “JUMP THE GUN” «

July 29, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, South Australia, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia: Aboriginal voices raise uranium concerns

A predominantly Aboriginal national anti-nuclear group has raised serious concerns over the impacts of uranium mining and nuclear activities on Aboriginal country ahead of the opening of a uranium industry conference in Fremantle today.
“Aboriginal people have long endured the impacts of uranium mining, nuclear testing and radioactive waste dumping proposals in Australia,” said ANFA co-chair Donna Jackson.
“We continue to lead the resistance to further uranium mining in Australia, Traditional Owners (TOs) should not be bullied or intimidated into signing agreements”.
The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) – formerly known as the Alliance Against Uranium (AAU) – was formed in 1997 and brings together Aboriginal people and health and environment NGOs concerned with the rapid expansion of existing or proposed uranium mining in Australia, particularly on Aboriginal homelands.
“ANFA is requesting an Inquiry or Royal Commission into Uranium mining and it’s impacts on people and country. This is not a black and white issue, this toxic industry threatens our clean air and clean water for tens of thousands of years, yet we are asked to believe the hollow assurances about safeguards from Governments and industry executives that may not be in power next week, let alone years from now”.

“It is vital that the full story be told and the full range of risks and impacts be understood by TOs.  Radioactive pollution can travel vast distances via air and water, and remain radioactive in the environment for thousands of years”.
Donna Jackson is available for comment on 0427 847 186.

ANFA – protecting country, supporting communities – www.anfa.org.au

July 25, 2009 Posted by | aboriginal issues, AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, uranium | , , , , , | Leave a comment