Families for a Nuclear Free Future (FFANFF)

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Families for a Nuclear-Free Future (FFANFF) =====================================================================
MEDIA RELEASE 20/5/09
Families for a Nuclear Free Future (FFANFF)
Alice Springs citizens send Minister Vatskalis 400 clear messages:
Stop uranium exploration at Angela Pamela
Photo opportunity: Alice Springs Post Office, 2pm, Wed. 20.05.09
Residents of Alice Springs have delivered a strong show of community opposition to the uranium exploration currently underway at the Angela Pamela site. Today over 400 letters will be posted to the NT Mines Minister, Kon Vatskalis, demanding that exploration be halted immediately.
Families for a Nuclear Free Future spokesperson Isabelle Kirkbride says: “Exploratory drilling at the proposed mine site has commenced and this is the first step towards a possible uranium mine over our water catchment.
We have collected over 400 letters of opposition within the last week, which shows that the people of Alice Springs are becoming increasingly concerned about this issue.
This campaign against the proposal is growing and will continue to grow. Today over 400 people are telling the government and the company that there will be no uranium mining at the Angela Pamela site.”
The letter states:
“As you know, drilling commenced at the Angela site earlier this week. And how did the local community find out about it? Just by chance through local news reports.
This is another occasion amongst many, where the NT Government and Cameco have failed to uphold their responsibility to consult with the community. It is the community who will experience the harmful environmental, social, economic and health effects of any exploration or mining of the Angela and Pamela deposits. ”
Alice Springs residents have enthusiastically responded to requests to sign the letter to the Minister and it has been a successful awareness raising exercise. Most people are unaware of the site’s proximity to town, and that both the Finke Desert Race track and the historic Ghan siding run alongside the proposed uranium mine site.
Families for a Nuclear Free Future joins with the people of Alice Springs in the call to NT Minister for Mines, Kon Vatskalis, to revoke the exploration license granted to Cameco to look for uranium at the Angela site.
For comment: Isabelle Kirkbride (mob) 0428 504 232
email: ffanff@aapt.net.au