Environmental students get organised

Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - 11:00

By Mel Bull

NEWCASTLE — On January 23-24, more than 50 student activists from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia participated in the Environment Activist Weekend organised by the Student Environment Activist Network (SEAN) and the National Union of Students (NUS).

The weekend was organised to share skills, evaluate past campaigns and plan environmental activities for first semester. During the two-day conference, the anti-Jabiluka mine campaign, regional forest agreements, the Students and Sustainability Conference and the proposed new nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney were discussed.

Activists from the Timbarra blockade reported on their plans to build solidarity for the blockade in the cities before the March NSW election.

Natasha Verco, NUS NSW environment officer said, "The weekend was a success. The group's ideas and enthusiasm showed that students aren't going to take the new attacks, whether against the education system or the environment, lying down. We are prepared to fight.

"We have a real chance to bring Jabiluka and Timbarra home to people, promote sustainability and fight voluntary student unionism. We just need to be organised, which is what the weekend was about."

For more information about SEAN, phone Natasha on (02) 9259 9492.

From GLW issue 348