Werribee rejected Uranium and the nuclear fuel cycle through political action. Reactors leak and genes mutate.
When the Liberals proposed a toxic dump for Werribee, the people were stirred into a massive reaction.
A national boycott was lead by the Democrat senators against CSR, the commercial operator of the proposed dump.
The protest movement culminated in a 15,000 strong meeting at Werribee Racetrack – average mums, dads and kids – joining to deny the government and the profit seeking CSR their plan, which was to be at the cost of the local residents. The civic resistance would have only got bigger if the Liberals hadn’t cut their losses and cancelled the planned toxic dump.
Uranium and radioactive waste from nuclear reactors are far more toxic than the contents of the once planned toxic dump in Werribee.
If 15,000 people protest against the cost to their health and livelihood from chemical waste, imagine how many would be out to stop a fatal government mistake mining Uranium and creating radioactive waste at every point of the fuel cycle. I recall Werribee was mooted as a potential site for a Nuclear Reactor, but the quiet giant of public opinion stirred. The proposal was quickly stilled.
Now, Labor has increased the scale of uranium mining in Australia, and continues to operate 2 nuclear reactors at Lucas Heights.
The more modern reactor was shutdown pending investigation of incidents during its operation.
The older has suffered a number of incidents, no doubt obliging the decision to replace it.
I am convinced that with the appropriate use of particle accelerators, nuclear reactors would no longer be required for nuclear medicines and medical research, the stated justification for keeping the reactors.
Australia is trading the genetic health of generations in return for quick bucks – Is it really worth it??
Australia was once proudly nuclear free, with uranium left safely in the ground. Now we have operating and planned Uranium mines and two sick nuclear reactors. This is NOT progress.
Though I was never a Democrats voter, I mourn the decline of public interest in the Democrats.
I might have seen the Democrats as one version of the Liberals, but that perception is irrelevant when we look at the nuclear issue.
In its effect on health, environment,war,civil liberties – the nuclear danger is bigger than party politics.
The Democrats were the first to really see this.
I commend Roger Howe on this article. I never knew about the Werribee thing. How ignorant we, the Australian public, are.
We urgently need these reminders.
Hi Christina and thanks for taking the time to comment!
I was surprised, though I should not have been, that as recently as just before the 2007 federal election, John Howard had a consortium – that included Dr Ziggy Switkowski – looking at the feasability of building a reactor in the electorate of McEwen. The site was near Lake Eildon in Victoria. The sitting member (Fran Bailley) was not pleased and opposed the plan vehemently. That she is a Liberal, was at the time a minister, was ironic. She supported the government of Howard on the issue – but not in *her* electorate.
[...] Werribee rejected Uranium and the nuclear fuel cycle through political action. Reactors leak and gen… [...]
[...] Werribee rejected Uranium and the nuclear fuel cycle through political action. Reactors leak and gen… [...]
Fran Bailey’s attitude is a reminder of Dixy Lee Ray,former chair of the US Atomic Energy Commission. She just didn’t want nuclear power in her own State, (Washington).
About medical isotopes – happily, Australia’s Roger Howe is not the only voice speaking up for alternative ways to produce these.
In Canada, the University of Winnipeg offers a Manitoba-based particle accelerator rather than a nuclear reactor. the university has launched the Prairie Isotope Production Enterprise (PIPE), a not-for-profit partnership.
With Canada’s current reactor problems, this project offers a cheaper, safer, non-nuclear solution.
The technology offers a simpler way to produce medical isotopes, and a method that can easily be exported to other countries.
Australia does not need those “foot in the door” Lucas Heights nuclear reactors.