Author Archive: robyn

The Lizard Bites Back protest festival info night Tue 21 June

The Lizard Bites Back protest festival info night
Adelaide Bike Kitchen
22 Gibson St Bowden
Tuesday 21 June
6-8pm

The lizard bites back protest festival will take place at the gates of the Olympic Dam uranium mine from the 1st – 3rd of July this year.

Join us at the Adelaide Bike Kitchen on Tuesday 21st for an informal discussion about the event, including what to expect, why we are going, logistics, legals and anything else people want to discuss. Feel free to forward any questions to us before the info session.

This will also be a great opportunity to organise car poolingface to face, so if you are looking for passengers, or you need a lift, come along and we can connect drivers with passengers.

The lizard bites back follows on from the lizard’s revenge in July 2012, which saw approximately 500 people converge near the gates of the mine for five days of workshops, actions and music.

With SA currently facing two nuclear waste dump proposals, and BHP Billiton projected to start a heap leach trial by the end of the year as part of an alternative expansion plan, this is an important time to mobilise and send the message that there is strong community opposition to any expansion of the nuclear fuel cycle in SA.

In July we will re-focus on the source of the problem, highlighting an absurd global situation where we keep mining a mineral we have no idea how to dispose of safely, whilst proposals are again being made to force nuclear waste dumps on communities that do not want them.

The Lizard Bites Back will be held on Kokatha country.

Facebook event page

lizard photo

SPEAK OUT at the Gov: Traditional Owners tell their stories; No nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges

SPEAK OUT at the Gov: Traditional Owners tell their stories; No nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges

Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
59 Port Rd Hindmarsh
22 June
6:30-10pm

“Storylines go through the area.. This is our place of learning.” Regina McKenzie, Adnyamathanha Elder.

Come and listen to the stories, fireside at the Gov. Learn about the fight to stop a nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges and get inspired by Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners who have been speaking out strongly since the beginning and are certainly not about to stop!

There will be a short film, inspiring speakers and time to have a yarn.

We look forward to seeing you there.

GANG: Girls Against Nuclear Genocide

Facebook Event Page

photo waterhole gang

Donate to help Aboriginal people fight the Flinders nuclear dump

You are invited to donate to a gofund me account set up by by Adnyamathanha woman Regina McKenzie of Yappala Station near Hawker in the Flinders Ranges – she lives right next to the nuclear waste dump proposed location.

The site is approximately 35 km from Hawker. Hawker is approximately 1.5 hours drive north of Pt Augusta on the highway to Leigh Creek. Total of 4.5 hours north of Adelaide.

Please feel invited to donate to Regina: GoFundMe

“There are old ancient stories set deep in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. In a place called Barndioota, once part of a thriving trade route across Australia, archaeological evidence brings to life ancient stories, millennia old songlines that teach us about the land and its people.

“The first one to ever be registered in the South Australian Aboriginal Heritage AARD database is the story of Punga Pudinah.

“Using modern archaeological tools the story was verified as culturally important at the specific location of Barndioota.

“The South Australian Government plans to locate a nuclear waste dump at Barndioota – this will be devastating not only to this ancient culture but also to the vastly important ground water supply in the region. A region that sits at the edge of the desert in Australia’s Outback.

“The irony is South Australia’s Tourism Commission wants you to visit! It is indeed a beautiful place – check it out.

“We need to raise funds to stop the nuclear waste dump in the Flinders Ranges. The proposed site is near the beautiful Hookina waterhole, known by Aboriginal people as Punga Pudinah.

“Water is the most precious resource out here at the edge of the desert. A spill or leakage of nuclear waste into the ground water will devastate the are area.

“Please read: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/radwaste.html

“High-level wastes are hazardous because they produce fatal radiation doses during short periods of direct exposure.… Read more >>

BZE Renewable Superpower launch report back

Friends of the Earth Adelaide and Beyond Zero Emissions had a very successful launch of the Renewable Superpower report last Friday.

As reported in the Transcontinental newspaper based in Port Augusta:

“Repower Port Augusta spokesperson Lisa Lumsden, gave an address at the launch and was on the Q&A panel. Our Lisa Lumsden left the audience with the comment that she hoped Port Augusta is ready able and willing to be the hub for Australia as a renewable energy superpower.”

Frydenberg Fridays – let the Minister responsible for national nuclear waste dumps know how you feel

Frydenberg Fridays – an initiative of the ACE Collective, Friends of the Earth Melbourne

Contact the Federal Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg to oppose the dumping of Australia’s radioactive waste on the Adnyamathanha people and support the local communities in opposition to a national radioactive waste dump in the Flinders Ranges.

South Australia is at risk of being turned into the nation’s nuclear waste dump.

The Turnbull Government is advancing plans to build a national nuclear waste dump in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges. The announcement in April 2016 named Barndioota – Wallerbidina as the site.

We need your support to protect this region from nuclear waste.

The Wallerbidina site is of great cultural, historical and spiritual significance to Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners, who are calling this decision a desecration of their culture. Regina McKenzie, who lives at Yappala Station near the dump site, says: “The area is Adnyamathanha land. It is Arngurla Yarta (spiritual land). The proposed dump site has countless thousands of Aboriginal artifacts. Our ancestors are buried there. The nominated site is a significant women’s site. Throughout the area are registered cultural heritage sites and places of huge importance to our people.”

Friends of the Earth has been working closely with Adnyamathanha Traditional Owners who are united in their opposition to the proposed dump.

Regina McKenzie and her family are asking for support.

One way you can do this is by contacting Minister Frydenberg and expressing concern about the national dump plans. In the lead up to the final decision, your voice can be a powerful support to the Adnyamathanha people and will be appreciated for generations to come.

To contact Minister Frydenberg:

Call his Melbourne office – (03) 9882 3677

Send an email – josh.frydenberg.mp@aph.gov.au

Write a letter – 695 Burke Road, Camberwell VIC 3124

Some points to mention in your letter/email to Minister Frydenberg:

Impact on Aboriginal Traditional Owners

The Adnyamathanha community is unanimously opposed to the development of the proposed nuclear waste dump at Wallerbidina Station, and view this proposal as an attack on their cultural beliefs, history and heritage.… Read more >>