Jabiluka: time to act
By Sarah Peart
On June 12, the Northern Territory Supreme Court refused to grant an injunction against the NT government's authorisation of the construction of the Jabiluka uranium mine. Yvonne Margarula, the senior Mirrar traditional owner, sought the injunction because the authorisation had been issued before all the required environmental assessments had been completed.
On June 9, eight people were arrested at the Jabiluka site while protesting in solidarity with Margarula, who appeared in court that day to face trespass charges arising from her arrest at the mine site on May 19. There are presently more than 150 people at the blockade and organisers expect a big influx in coming weeks.
Six more protesters were arrested on June 12 as they walked onto the lease. Among those arrested were three older women who had travelled to the blockade from Newcastle. Protesters sang and linked arms as they were confronted by police.
Greens senator Bob Brown pointed out that "now the final agreement has been signed by the NT government, Jabiluka is a major federal election issue. The Jabiluka mine is a litmus test on indigenous rights, the environment and nuclear policy."
Brown said he would approach federal Labor leader Kim Beazley for a clear commitment that an ALP government will halt the mine at Jabiluka. "As it stands, ALP policy is half-baked and offers no guarantees to the traditional owners that the mine will be stopped under an ALP government."
Environmentalist and rock singer Peter Garrett told the June 12 Sydney Morning Herald, "it is going to require mass action on a scale that we haven't seen since the Vietnam period" to stop the mine.
Sydney Resistance member and Jabiluka Action Group activist Wendy Robertson agrees: "We need to draw more people in the major cities into this campaign, and build support for the blockade. We need to talk to more people about the issues and convince them to take a stand against this violation of human rights. This decision has to be taken out of the hands of the big business politicians.
"That Energy Resources Australia and the NT government are so keen to fast-track approval completely undermines their argument that the mine poses no risks. What are they trying to hide — that they have no problems dumping 20 million tonnes of radioactive tailings in a World Heritage-listed area, on to somebody else's land?"
Robertson argues that the significant public opposition to the mine needs to be translated into active opposition in the streets, "like the big demonstrations that helped end the Vietnam War".
"There are strong anti-Jabiluka groups at many universities which are encouraging the community to join the campaign and Resistance will begin to take the campaign into high schools. Church groups and trade unions should also take part.
"With construction imminent, we cannot wait until the next election. The time to stop the mine is now. In any case, we can't rely on the Labor Party, which has a history of pro-uranium mining policies."
Jabiluka Action Groups in each city are organising pickets, public meetings and rallies in coming weeks. To get in touch phone: Brisbane 3221 0188, Canberra 6247 2424, Darwin 8981 1984, Hobart 6234 6397, Lismore 6622 0243, Melbourne 9419 8700 and Sydney 9514 1155.
Travel to the Jabiluka blockade can be arranged by phoning: Melbourne 9419 8700, Sydney 9267 4463, Brisbane 9267 4463, and Lismore 6622 0243.