Publications

Irati Wanti nuclear waste free SA exhibition 15 October

Dear Friend of the Irati Wanti campaign,

Emily Munyungka Austin, Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, and Karina Lester, granddaughter of Eileen Kampakuta Brown, invite you to attend a special event:

Talking Straight Out: Images and insights from the campaign that stopped South Australia from becoming a nuclear waste dump.

The Lyrics Room, Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide, Kaurna Land

Thursday 15 October, 2015

Doors open at 5pm, Inma, stories and speakers from 6pm

irati wanti

October 15, 2015 marks 62 years since the first atomic bomb test at Emu Junction, South Australia.  The Kungka Tjuta remember, “All of us were living when the Government used the country for the bomb.  Everybody got sick… They thought they knew what they were doing then…

In February 1998 the federal government announced its plan to build a national radioactive waste dump in the South Australian desert. In March a council of senior Aboriginal women from Coober Pedy, the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, made an announcement of their own. “We say no radioactive waste dump in our ngurain our country.”

For six years the women travelled the country, talking straight out.  They called their campaign Irati Wanti. “We all say enough is enough. Irati wanti—the poison leave it.”

They explained, they demanded, they marched and sang.  They told of extraordinary personal histories.  They worked with greenies and wrote passionate letters to politicians.

They won.

They published a book to share these stories with you. Now we are sharing them again.

There is talk again about radioactive waste dumps in South Australia. When word got to Coober Pedy, women again got together to talk, “We know the stories from the bomb. We know the history. We know the country. And it is crying for us. We will talk over and over and we won’t stop.Read more >>

Environmentalist = terrorist according to government leaflet

You might have seen some of the reports about a new government leaflet talking about radicalisation; here’s what the Guardian said about it::

The Australian government has used an environmental activist who became involved in the “alternative music scene” as an example of violent extremism, in a booklet aimed at helping teachers identify students who are becoming radicalised and linked to terrorism.

The Radicalisation Awareness Kit was launched this week by Michael Keenan, the justice minister and minister assisting the prime minister on counter-terrorism, to help teachers look out for signs of radicalisation in their students.

The booklet warns that people can become motivated to be violent by particular ideologies such as “environmental or economic concerns, or ethnic or separatist causes”.

I particularly like the mention of the “alternative music scene”…

One would have hoped that the removal of Abbott would curb such nonsense…

 

FoE appears before House of Reps

Cam Walker, from FoE Australia, reports:

We had our ‘day in court’ yesterday [Sept 21], appearing at the House of Reps hearing into green groups.

We had a solid and well prepared team at the table: Sam Castro, Julien Vincent, Nicola Paris and myself.

We had a fantastic support team, who helped us prepare (thanks to Ben Courtice for the research, Andrew Laird for channeling his inner George Christensen and grilling us with lots of hard questions, Leigh for media strategy, Phil for great images, and many people like Lou Sales and John Glue, who commented on drafts of our presentation).

And lots of people turned up at the hearing to support us.

Then we had the ‘defend the defenders’ rally outside the hearings, which had an awesome turnout. We had a great presence at that – nice visuals from yes 2 renewables, and Phil even handing out membership forms!

Pics here: https://www.facebook.com/events/430687940462368/

I think we presented really well, we mostly controlled the frame of the debate and questions, and they got no ammo to use against us. Strangely, the arch nasty, George Christensen delivered a very lacklustre performance. The many months spent on responding to ATO and Dept investigations paid off, as we were able to remind the committee we have been investigated 3 times, and been found to be compliant each time.

There’s a bit of commentary here: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/21/green-groups-call-on-malcolm-turnbull-to-keep-tax-deductible-status

Its certainly not over, but we are past a watershed moment in the government’s campaign against the movement. Thanks everyone, we pulled together and done good.

onwards

Cam Walker,

Campaigns Coordinator

Nuclear Politics in the Pub Wed 16th September

The NUKE FREE SA COALITION invite you to attend:

Nuclear politics in the pub – Part1

Royal Commission submission session

The submissions are in, but what did people say? Come and hear a range of authors and contributors share in brief (5 mins!) the key point of their submissions, on a range of economic, cultural and environmental issues.

6.00pm – 8.30pm Wednesday 16 SEPTEMBER, 2015 Upstairs @ The Gov, Port Road, Hindmarsh.

Speakers include:

  • Chris Hannaford, Prospect Local Environment Group
  • Karina Lester, YNTAC Chairperson
  • Rose Lester, from Walatina and committee member of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
  • Tauto Sansbury, SA Congress
  • Cr Michelle Hogan, Port Adelaide Enfield Council
  • Dr Philip White, Friends of the Earth Adelaide
  • Dr Jim Green, Friends of the Earth Australia (via Skype)
  • Mark Parnell MLC, South Australia Greens
  • Melissa Ballantyne, Environmental Defenders Office SA
  • Philippa Rowland, Re-power South Australia

Check out the fb event HERE

RSVP via eventbrite HERE – this help us with catering or just rock up!

While submissions are closed for the Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Chain, the discussion is just getting started!

Special screening of short film ‘ Homelands’ with Bobby Brown .

Free event * Light snacks provided. * Drinks at bar prices

Hosted by the SA nuke free coalition – for more information call: Nectaria on: 0432 388 665 or Robyn on: 0423 219 096 or email adelaide.office@foe.org.au

Friends of the Earth Adelaide is a member group of the Nuke Free SA coalition.  We meet monthly in the city, all welcome.