Swing against Labor in NT due to Labor’s Aboriginal policy and nuclear waste dump plans
Mr Hampton said…….There’s obviously the issues …..in terms of the nuclear waste dump as well, so they’re federal issues……
Intervention cost Labor votes: NT minister – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Eleni Roussos, 24 Aug 2010, The Minister for Central Australia, Karl Hampton, says the federal intervention contributed to a swing against Labor in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Anti-nuclear movement making waves in Australia
The sad reality is that whoever forms government in Australia on Monday will support expanded uranium mining and radioactive waste dumping at Muckaty.
Whilst we have strong political supporters it is increasingly clear that it is the community and community organisations and resistance that best challenges the atomic agenda
those of us working for a nuclear free future have got some results and made some waves.– Dave Sweeney, 20 August 2010, Continue reading
Folksy, narrow focus in Australia’s election campaign
The politicians, the big corporations and their lapdog media have successfully managed to con Australians into a narrow, navel-gazing view of politics.
Especially with the “town hall meetings” with the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the Opposition leader, Tony Abbott – the campaign process has been transformed into a nice, folksy talkfest about each “real person” ‘s personal worries.
Oh for an “unreal person” – a good old-style political heckler – to bring reality into this.
I do not discount the genuine concerns of the community speakers. But each voter’s personal concern is not the whole story in this election.
The wider issues – climate change, pollution, nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear waste dumping – these issues also concern each voter. The fact that they are global issues does not make them irrelevant to this election. – Christina Macpherson 19 August
Northern Territory Labor MP says Muckaty nuclear dump far from certain
Labor’s Mr Snowdon says he is standing up for Territorians and there is no guarantee the dump will be at Muckaty.
Muckaty nuke dump not a done deal: Snowdon, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By David Coady, 17 Aug 2010. Federal Member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon has suggested that building a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory is not a done deal. Continue reading
Long list of Labor and Liberal policy failures on nuclear issues
The government has failed to implement its policy of addressing radioactive waste management issues in a manner which is “scientific, transparent, accountable and fair”: Muckaty did not even make the short-list when scientific and environmental criteria informed a site-selection process in the 1990s.
Nuclear backflips and broken promises – On Line Opinion – By Bill Williams and Jim Green 13 August 2010 The Medical Association for Prevention of War and Friends of the Earth have produced a “Choose Nuclear Free” policy scorecard and analysis ahead of the August 21 federal election. www.choosenuclearfree.net The two striking features of our analysis are the long list of broken promises and backflips by the Labor Government, and the unwillingness of the Opposition to oppose. Continue reading
Australia’s major political parties fail on nuclear waste dumping
“When you attempt to impose nuclear waste dumps on unwilling communities it’s very likely to backfire and the dump won’t be established because community opposition will prevail,”
Anti-nuclear alliance gives thumbs down to parties – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 17 Aug 2010, An alliance opposed to a nuclear industry in Australia says neither the Government nor the Opposition deserves to win the federal election.At a meeting of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance in Alice Springs, traditional owners have raised renewed concerns about a proposal to house a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station near Tennant Creek. Continue reading
Nuclear industry manipulating older Aboriginals into leasing their land
“The old people particularly, and the tricks that companies use to get people to sign and not realising the full impacts of what they’re signing, and what that means for their ground water especially.”
Traditional owners ‘pressured’ into nuclear land leases ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 16 Aug 2010, The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance says traditional owners, particularly the elderly, are facing increasing pressures from mining companies and governments to lease their land for nuclear development. The alliance of mainly traditional owners held its annual conference near Alice Springs over the weekend. 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.
Koongarra uranium mining would endanger precious wetlands
“Woolwonga is so valuable ecologically that we oppose in principle any mining development upstream of it,” the inquiry report said.
Rich uranium mine stays locked up, Northern Territory News, NIGEL ADLAM, August 11th, 2010 “….. The Fox Inquiry said in 1977 that Koongarra should not be mined as it is close to the internationally important Woolwonga wetlands. Continue reading
Australia’s Liberal Coalition would prevent uranium mining at Koongarra
Federal Coalition at odds with CLP over Kakadu – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Jane BardonUpdated , Aug 11, 2010 Uranium-rich land offered to Kakadu Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says an Abbott government would protect Koongarra. (Lateline) The Federal Coalition says it would match Labor’s commitment to prevent uranium mining at Koongarra by taking up a traditional owner’s offer to incorporate it into Kakadu National Park. Continue reading
AREVA unhappy, Australia’s tourism happy, about Kakadu expansion
AREVA wants the Government to explain its decision and says it is now seeking legal advice…Meanwhile, Tourism Top End says it is hopeful Labor’s pledge to expand Kakadu will mean more areas will be opened to tourists.
Kakadu expansion plan bewilders uranium miner – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Emma Masters, Aug 11, 2010 “….A French mining company seeking to exploit uranium-rich land surrounded by Kakadu National Park is calling for the Federal Government to explain why it has promised to stop future mining. Continue reading
Uranium and nuclear news under the radar in Australia
I do aim to post significant international news here. But – so much uranium and nuclear stuff is going on without media mention, here in Australia. Today we have two courageous Aboriginals – Michael Anderson, and Jeffrey Lee, standing up for their people and for Country, against the uranium industry.
The USA and Australia are soon to ratify a new nuclear agreement, – yet we Australians HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD ABOUT THIS.
Tony Abbott’s telling Catholic schoolkids how all we need to do is follow USA’s lead on selling uranium to India (never mind about the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty)
Anyway, I’ve had to confine myself today to mentioning the frightening events in Russia, where a very little amount of news is getting out about the wildfires around the nuclear facilities near Moscow, and the uncertain facts on radioactivity in smoke. Christina Macpherson 11 Aug 2010.
Modern Aboriginal farmer stands for Australia’s Senate
Today Michael Eckford aka Anderson launched his Senate campaign in NSW on the United Nations International Day for the World’s Indigenous People’s.
“I am standing for the Senate in NSW because I believe that Australia needs to find a New Way and free itself from being the last outpost of British colonialism. It’s long overdue for a strong Black voice to come forward and stand up for Environmental and Social Justice.”
Mr Eckford, a long-term Aboriginal and Human Rights activist, is a sheep and cattle grazing farmer on his traditional lands in northwest NSW. Continue reading
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
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 