Actions against uranium shipment

By Tom Flanagan DARWIN — After five days of sustained campaigning community activists, trade unionists and Greenpeace failed to stop 20 containers of uranium ore (yellowcake) from leaving here on November 2. However, Energy Resources Australia (ERA), which operates Ranger uranium mine, paid a significant price for its victory. Not only did the protest actions cause a financial loss for ERA, but they also raised public awareness about Australia's role in the nuclear cycle. The protests also demonstrated the importance and potential for greater collaboration between community activists and trade unionists on the nuclear issue. The yellowcake shipment was, in fact, delayed for two months. ERA initially delayed the shipment in early September to avoid clashing with strong community opposition shown to the resumption of nuclear testing at Moruroa atoll. Then, on October 29, when transport workers were asked to move the shipment from the TNT freight yards in the outer suburb of Berrimah, the Transport Workers Union imposed a 24-hour ban. Activists from the anti-nuclear group ENuFF (Everyone for a Nuclear-Free Future) set up a picket outside TNT on October 30 and maintained an all-night vigil. At dawn on October 31 about 30 determined ENuFF activists set up a picket at the gate of Fort Hill Wharf. The convoy of seven road trains carrying the shipment arrived at the wharf at 7.30am. Protesters held their ground and the lead truck came to a halt as it made contact with the front line of picketers. The picket held up the convoy for almost an hour with protesters singing, chanting and beating drums until police moved in and wedged the blockade apart. With the trucks in the wharf's enclosed area, protesters kept up the chant: "Miners dig it, truckies haul it, if you load it the French explode it — don't load the boat". Shortly before 9am the Maritime Workers Union imposed a 24-hour ban on unloading the trucks, and the shipment was sent back to Berrimah to the sound of cheering picketers. The tug boat captains then announced that they too were imposing a 24-hour ban on the Clydebank, the ship intended to carry the uranium. Meanwhile, two Greenpeace activists had attached themselves to the Clydebank's anchor chain, preventing it from coming into port. The next attempt to move the shipment, on November 2, was successful. This time there was little prospect of union bans to back up community protest action. Despite the best efforts of ENuFF members who again set up a picket, and Greenpeace activists who hung from ropes tied to the wharf crane and attempted to stay out of reach of the police, the protest was over and the ship was loaded by lunchtime. The activists involved have rejected ERA boss Phil Shirvington's charges that their protests were a waste of time because the yellowcake was bound for Canada, not France. Northern Territory mines and energy minister Mike Reed was on target in an ABC radio interview when he said "these people want to stop uranium mining altogether".