Beyond Nuclear Initiative News

1. There will be a Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Bill.

This Bill put forward by Senator Scott Ludlam repeals the Commonwealth Radioactive Waste Management Act of 2005 and the amendments to that legislation made in 2006.

The highly undemocratic law, rammed through by the Howard government, allows the federal dump to be forced on the NT despiteopposition from Traditional Owners, the broader NT community and the NT Government.

Submissions are due by Friday 31 October.

Information about the Inquiry is online here: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/radioactive_waste/info.htm

You are strongly, strongly urged to make a submission to the Inquiry!

Send your submissions to:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications and the Arts Department of the Senate PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Australia
Phone: +61 2 6277 3526
Fax: +61 2 6277 5818
Email: eca.sen@aph.gov.au

Hearings will be held in mid-November, and if enough submissions are received from the Territory, it is a possibility that a hearing will be held in Darwin and/or Alice Springs.

The report will be due in early December.

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2. Angela Pamela Exploration License granted late Friday afternoon we had news that the Angela Pamela license had been granted. It was heartening to see the immediate community response- within 3 hours, 80 people were assembled on the Town Council Lawns and marched to the Chief Minister's office for a community speak out.

On Sunday, hundreds of people attended a rally and the ASAP collective spent the rest of the afternoon faxing the 143 messages that were written to the Mines Minister, Chief Minister and Environment Minister in the NT and federal Environment and Resources Ministers to reiterate that while the NTG says yes, Alice Springs says NO !

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Links to some media articles:

Alice ALP Branch fights uranium licence
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/08/2385307.htm?site=alicesprings

NT Government defends uranium exploration decision http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/07/2384315.htm

Alice Springs uranium mine gets exploration approval http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/03/2381698.htm?site=alicesprings

NT 'ignored community over uranium project'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/03/2381883.htm?site=alicesprings

Uranium mining won't affect Alice water: Henderson http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/06/2383116.htm?site=alicesprings

The Alice Springs Angela Pamela collective will be planning a number of community events to keep momentum around this issue, and to begin challenging the large number of other uranium exploration licences pending, or already granted.

Stay tuned for more information about nuclear free picnics and other upcoming events.

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Media Release
October 3, 2008

Community group condemns approval of uranium exploration

The Alice Springs Angela Pamela (ASAP) collective has branded the NT Government decision to allow exploration at known uranium deposits Angela and Pamela ‘a blatant disregard of community concern and opposition’.

The uranium deposits are situated only 25 km from Alice Springs and within the water catchment boundary for the town.

“This decision from Darwin is extremely disappointing, because the local community has spoken loudly and clearly that exploration at these sites is not welcome,” stated Natalie Wasley, from the ASAP Collective.

“950 people signed a petition calling for this license not to be granted and hundreds of people have attended public meetings and rallies to show their opposition.”

Jimmy Cocking from ASAP added “The NT Government has shown contempt for concerns about the potential environmental and social impacts of having a uranium project so close to Alice Springs.”

“The NT government and companies have tried to talk up possible economic benefits for the region, but local residents, pastoralists and tourism operators will be adversely impacted if this project goes ahead”.

“The decision to allow exploration at Angela and Pamela is extremely disappointing, but the ASAP collective will continue to foster broad community alliances to oppose uranium exploration and mining at these deposits and throughout the NT.” Natalie Wasley concluded.

Contact:
Natalie Wasley 0429 900 774
Jimmy Cocking 0423 511 931

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3. Central Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (CANFA) meeting

The inaugural CANFA meeting will be held at Blatherskite Park (Members Bar) from November 7-9, 2008.

CANFA is a regional version of the annual Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) meeting, which was recently held near Darwin.

All community members are welcome to attend and discuss a range of topics including:
Radiation and health
Uranium exploration
Uranium mining
Water
Climate Change
Nuclear waste

There will be a special session on Angela Pamela, details TBA.

Guest speakers at the meeting include:
Dr Jim Green, Friends of the Earth Australia Dave Sweeney, Australian Conservation Foundation Donna Jackson, Top End Aboriginal Conservation Alliance Dr Hilary Tyler, Medical Association for the Prevention of War

For more information, to attend or assist in organising CANFA please contact:
Natalie Wasley, 08 8952 2011, natwasley@alec.org.au

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Beyond Nuclear Initiative
Uranium Project

natwasley@alec.org.au
08 8952 2011
0429 900 774