Nuclear South Wales? Resisting O’Farrell’s uranium push.
Please find information below on two events to help build the campaign against uranium exploration and mining in NSW.
For more information contact: Natalie Wasley, 0429900774, natwasley(at)gmail.com
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Click here to download August 16 NSW uranium meeting leaflet
1. PUBLIC MEETING
Nuclear South Wales? Resisting O’Farrell’s uranium push.
Thursday August 16, 6-8pm.
Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills
(near Central Station; Devonshire St Exit)
Speakers:
Luke Foley MLC, Shadow Minister for the Environment
Jamie Parker MP, Greens NSW spokesperson on uranium
Arthur Rorris, South Coast Labour Council Secretary
Peter Watts, Arabana Cultural Advisor, Australian Nuclear Free Alliance co-chair
Chaired by: Rita Mallia, NSW President, CFMEU C&G Division
Welcome to Country: Auntie Millie Ingram
Website: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/events/2012-2/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/418594158184357/ (or search Nuclear South Wales)
Supported by: Australian Conservation Foundation, Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Friends of the Earth Australia, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Nature Conservation Council NSW, National Tertiary Education Union (NSW), Maritime Union Australia, South Coast Labour Council.
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2. WORKSHOP AND DISCUSSION DAY
Saturday August 25, 10am-3pm
University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Ultimo
CB02.03.20 (Building 2, floor 3, room 20).
Follow signs from the foyer of the Tower Building (enter off Broadway)
Get involved in the campaign against uranium exploration in NSW !
Discussion topics and speakers include:
* Historical snapshot: The Movement Against Uranium Mining (MAUM) in the 70s/80s and lessons for organising today. Dr Geoff Evans, Newcastle University, MAUM organiser
* Industry snapshot: NSW, Australia and worldwide. Climate Change and the “nuclear renaissance”. Dr Jim Green, Friends of the Earth Australia.
* Health effects of the nuclear industry on workers and community.Dr Helen Caldicott, Physician and author.
* Building a nuclear free NSW campaign. Paul McAleer, Maritime Union of Australia.
For updates on the program see: www.beyondnuclearinitiative.com
To register please email: natwasley@gmail.com or call 0429 900 774 (Nat)
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In March the NSW government passed the Mining Legislation Amendment (Uranium Exploration) Act 2012, overturning a 26-year bi-partisan ban on uranium exploration in the state.
The uranium industry poses serious health risks to workers and the community and long-term hazards to the environment.
The ongoing crisis at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant has been a wake up call to many countries of the inherent dangers of the nuclear industry. With the Australian government confirming that uranium mined in Australia was present in all of the stricken nuclear reactors at Fukushima, it is time for Australia to move away from this outdated industry and instead invest resources toward becoming a world leader in renewable technologies.
The proposal to explore and mine for uranium in NSW was not taken to the community at the state election. There is no mandate for embracing an industry that would have such a long-term impact on New South Wales’ society and environment. Since Premier O’Farrell announced his intention to open up uranium exploration in NSW, thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to maintain the uranium ban.
State and national environment organisations are jointly calling for a full, robust and independent inquiry. Before opening the door to uranium companies, it is essential to examine the adequacy of NSW’s regulatory regimes, the experience of uranium mining in other jurisdictions and the views of all relevant stakeholders.
For more information contact: natwasley@gmail.com | 0429 900 774 | www.beyondnuclearinitiative.com
Big thanks to AMWU NSW for support to use the venue.
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Stop O’Farrell’s U-Turn
NO uranium exploration in NSW
NO to nuclear – renewable energy now!
Rally 12:30pm, Wednesday Feb 22
NSW Parliament House, Macquarie St Sydney
Speakers include Linda Burney MP (ALP), Jeremy Buckingham MP (Greens), Genevieve Kelly (NTEU NSW), Yukiko Hirano (311 campaign for nuclear free), Pepe Clark (NCC NSW), Nat Wasley (Beyond Nuclear Initiative)
Liberal Premier Barry O’Farrell has introduced legislation to overturn a ban on uranium mining in NSW that has existed for 26-years. O’Farrell has no mandate for this. The issue was not raised at the last election and he was publicly supporting the ban until just two months ago.
A 2003 Senate Inquiry into the uranium mining industry in Australia found a “pattern of under-performance and non compliance” and all operating mines in Australia have a disastrous history of leaks, spills and license breaches. The Senate report concluded that the uranium industry in Australia had to change to protect the environment and its inhabitants from ‘serious or irreversible damage’.
Uranium is the asbestos of the 21st century. Past governments could plead ignorance of the effects of asbestos but today’s politicians know the serious health impacts from radiation. It is an unacceptable risk to workers and the community. Uranium fuels nuclear weapons proliferation and there is no solution for the intractable problem of radioactive waste.
In the shadow of the first anniversary of the continuing Fukushima nuclear crisis – which was fuelled by Australian uranium – we need to move away from this controversial and contaminating industry, not open the door to more environmental and community threat.
Opposition to uranium runs deep in NSW. Demand a renewable energy future and stop the Liberal’s U-Turn in it’s tracks.
Contact : Natalie Wasley, Beyond Nuclear Initiative, 0429 900 774
Supported by: National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) NSW, Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) Sydney Branch, Nature Conservation Council NSW, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Yellowcake Road Collective, People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) NSW
