Ep. 50. Lake Cowal, Mitch Speaks and Uranium Leaks

Aired on 2SER 9 April 2009

Click to Download: Ep. 50. Lake Cowal, Mitch Speaks and Uranium Leaks

Ranger Leaks
Over its 30 year lifetime, the Ranger uranium mine has had more than 200 environmental complaints lodged against it, including confirmation in February at a senate inquiry that the mine is now losing over 100 000L a day of radioactive tailings into World Heritage listed Kakadu. In addition to this, owners of the Ranger mine have now applied for an expansion. The 3rd Degree’s Tessa Dowdell caught up with Dave Sweeney, nuclear campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation, who visited the contaminated site last week.

This Week's Guest: We spoke to Nat Wasley from Beyond Nuclear Initiative a few weeks ago just before she and Mitch, Arrernte/Lutija traditional owner, author, poet, artist and activist, left for a speaking tour in the US. Nat is back to talk about the adventure, and we play a snippet of Mitch speaking at Capitol Hill at a protest which closed young people's climate conference 'Power Shift' - www.powershift09.org . Nat also fills us in on upcoming protests and speakouts around the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference which will be held in Sydney April 22-23.



Lake Cowal Easter Convergence
Lake Cowal is the largest inland lake in NSW and the sacred heartland for the Wiradjuri people. For 10 years Wiradjuri traditional owners have been campaigning to prevent gold mining in the area. Since 2002 Barrick Gold, the world’s largest gold-mining company, have been mining in the area. Barrick uses 6,613 tons about 6,000 tonnes per year of cyanide and other hazardous chemicals to leach gold from Lake Cowal ore. The 3rd Degree's Libby King spoke with Uncle Neville Chappy Williams of the Mooka/KalaraUnited families within the Wiradjuri nation.

Head to Lake Cowal this Easter weekend, 10-12 April. More info at savelakecowal.com

Anti-Nuclear Events Upcoming:
Thursday 16 April 7pm
Nukes film screening and fundraiser at STUCCO, USyd student housing co-op, Wilson Street
Tuesday 21 April 6pm
Old Geography Lecture Theatre at Sydney University, near Footbridge Theatre, off Parramatta Road
NT Muckaty Traditional Owners Diane Stokes and Mark Lane, Senator Scott Ludlam and ACFs Dave Sweeney speak, plus photo exhibition.
Wednesday 22 April 8am
Protest against 2009 World Nuclear Fuel Cycle Conference, Sheraton on the Park, 161 Elizabeth Street Sydney
Wednesday 22 April night
Speakout in Wollongong, speakers include Uncle Dootch Kennedy.

For more information visit beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com

Presenters: Libby King and Tessa Dowdell