Protest against Sydney nuclear reactor
By Molly Wishart
SYDNEY — Six hundred people attended a rally on April 11 to protest against a new nuclear reactor proposed for Lucas Heights in southern Sydney. The rally was held outside the front gates of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), which operates the HIFAR nuclear reactor.
Organisers from People Against a Nuclear Reactor were delighted with the strong support from local residents plus several hundred people from Sydney, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Lismore and Canberra.
Speakers included local councillor Genevieve Rankin, local resident Jo-Anne Lentern, anti-nuclear campaigner Jean McSorley, the environment officer at University of Western Sydney, Jim Johnson, and Green Left Weekly journalist Jim Green.
On April 12 it was revealed that another accident has occurred at ANSTO, and again it has been covered up. ANSTO admitted that a tank containing radioactive waste water overflowed in October, releasing an "enormous" amount of water.
ANSTO claims that the water was captured in a holding tank and that only fresh water entered the river system as a result of the accident. However, the organisation refused to release a report on the incident, saying it is an internal document which identifies employees.
A Lucas Heights Campaign Group has been formed. For more information, or to help build the campaign against the new reactor, phone Jim Green on (02) 9211 0805.