In mid June, indigenous traditional owners and community members from areas in the NT proposed for the Federal radioactive waste dump will undertake a two week speaking tour of south eastern cities. The tour, timed to coincide with the announcement of the Government
's preferred dump site, will enable the speakers to share their stories and experiences of being targeted for the dump, discuss associated social justice and environment issues and explore ways people can engage with and support the community campaign.
With the recent nomination of Muckaty station, amid much controversy and community opposition, this tour has taken on a further sense of urgency.
On behalf of the coordinators for the tour, I invite you to attend the Adelaide public meeting, to be held on the evening of Wednesday 13 June, in the Hans Heysen Building of UniSA's City West Campus. Lecture Theatre HH4-08, Level 4 Hans Heysen Building, Uni SA City West.
As remote and indigenous communities are often marginalised from decision making processes and access to economic and political resources, this tour has been identified by participants as a key opportunity to express concerns regarding contamination of the country that sustains their communities, livelihoods and traditional culture. The tour also dispels the myth used to justify nuclear activities in Australia: that remote areas are uninhabited and lifeless places. Julie Bishop, Federal Science Minister, suggested that all of the proposed waste dump sites are 'far from any form of civilisation' when in fact, there are communities living and running successful enterprises three, five and eighteen kilometres away from the three of the areas currently being assessed.
If you have any further queries or would like to register, feel free to contact me at this email or on 0403 886 951.
Yours sincerely,
Joel Catchlove
Friends of the Earth Adelaide
120 Wakefield Street
Adelaide SA 5000
(08) 8227 1399
0403 886 951