Anti-uranium activists from across the country discussed plans for the campaign against the proposed Jabiluka mine in Kakadu during a national telephone link-up on January 28. Over coming weeks, representatives of the Mirrar traditional Aboriginal owners of Jabiluka will tour major Australian cities.
On March 21-23, activists will gather at the Jabiluka site to blockade mining operations. Plans for a national day of action revolving around demonstrations in capital cities to coincide with the blockade were dropped after link-up participants in Melbourne argued that all energy and resources should go into the blockade.
Others argued that many opponents of uranium mining will be unable to travel to Jabiluka because of work, family, study or financial limitations, and therefore that city-based demonstrations are crucial to demonstrate the extent of community opposition to the mine.
In Brisbane, anti-uranium activists staged a die-in inside the Queen Street branch of Westpac on February 2. Westpac is a major shareholder in North Ltd, the parent company of Energy Resources Australia which plans to mine Jabiluka. Customers were handed leaflets informing them of the issue.
Several van-loads of police arrived and the "dead'" were threatened with arrest if they did not come back to life. Two people were arrested for "remaining in a building without lawful excuse". They will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates' Court on February 18.
On February 10, at a public meeting at 7pm in the Sherwood Room, City Hall, representatives of the Mirrar people will present David Bradbury's film Jabiluka and speak about the impact uranium mining will have on their land. For more information, telephone the Brisbane Jabiluka Action Group on 3221 0188.