Anti-uranium mining activists around the country held protest actions last week to condemn the Howard government's decision to allow the opening of new uranium mines.
From Sydney, Roberto Jorquera reports that more than 1000 people joined a noisy rally outside Sydney Town Hall before marching to the offices of Energy Resources Australia on May 24.
Speakers at the rally included WA Greens Senator Dee Margetts, Wendy Robertson from the Stop Uranium Mining campaign committee, Ray Jackson from the Aboriginal community, John Hallam from Friends of the Earth and Hamish Quinn, a high school student. A large proportion of the protesters were high school students.
From Canberra, Marina Carmen relates that the socialist youth organisation Resistance organised a speak-out in the city centre on May 24. Speakers included Shane Rattenbury from the ACT Greens, Michelle Armstrong from Resistance and Sue Bull from the Democratic Socialist Party.
Rally chairperson Nick Soudakoff pointed out that the expansion of uranium mining is yet another example of the Howard government's anti-people agenda. "The government's decision will not only affect the people of Australia. It will also endanger other people in the region, in particular in Indonesia, which is being targeted for nuclear technology and uranium sales by Australian corporations."
John Nebauer writes from Brisbane that about 350 people attended a rally on May 24 organised by the Coalition Against the Mining and Export of Uranium (CAMEU).
The rally was chaired by Claire Moore, Queensland branch secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union. Speakers included representatives from CAMEU, the Queensland Greens, the Democratic Socialist Party, the Australian Women's Party, the Australian Indigenous People's Party, the International Socialist Organisation, the Australian Democrats and the ALP member for Murrumba, Dean Wells.
Expressing the sentiment of the rally, Zanny Begg from the DSP said: "We're meant to forget about the health and safety implications of uranium sales and focus on the profits that exports will generate, supposedly 'in the national interest'. But once it is exported, we have no way of knowing what Australian uranium is used for. The only safe way to deal with uranium is to leave it in the ground."
The rally was followed by a spirited march through the city to the office of Senator Warwick Parer, the minister for resources, where a speak-out was held.
Also on May 24, the Hobart Peace Network held a public gathering outside the Commonwealth buildings in the city centre. Natalie Woodlock relates that the gathering heard speeches from Australian Democrats Senator Robert Bell, Ros Harvey from the Health and Community Services Union, Kylie Moon from Resistance and academic Ian Stewart.
On May 25, the Perth Anti-uranium Collective held a protest action in Fremantle. Anthony Benbow reports that around 100 people heard speeches from peace activist and CFMEU official Bill Ethel, Becky Forster from Resistance, Jo Vallentine and Jessie Conochie.
In what the rally organisers are calling police harassment, activists who were publicising the action in Fremantle streets that morning were pulled over by police and their vehicle intensively searched until a small fault was found to justify the issuing of a defect notice. Earlier that week, the protesters had obtained police permission for the action.