Thousands expected for anti-Jabiluka rally
By Emma Webb
ADELAIDE — Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the anti-Jabiluka uranium mine rally planned to coincide with the WOMADelaide festival on February 21. The rally will start at 10am at Parliament House and march to Botanic Park.
Speakers include Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation and Sandra Saunders, former director of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement. Aboriginal performers Betty Sumner and Tal-kin-jeri will perform. Adelaide's largest banner will be painted at Botanic Park.
On February 19, local, interstate and international performers, in the city for the festival, will join together in a Jam Against Jabiluka media conference at Botanic Park at 2pm.
Following the WOMAD rally, the Jabiluka Action Group and Nuclear Issues Coalition will jointly organise a public meeting in the week before the Palm Sunday national day of action on March 28. The meeting will discuss the campaign to stop the Jabiluka, and Beverley and Honeymoon uranium mines, and the proposed nuclear waste dump in the Billa Kalina region of SA.
The meeting will also discuss and build the Arabunna people's campaign against the expansion of the Roxby Downs uranium mine. The expansion will lead to the mine leaching up to 40 million litres of water per day, significantly affecting the survival of springs in the area.
The Arabunna have called their people and supporters to the region for a protest, starting March 26.