Wednesday, 27 September, 2006

Alice Action

Fifty years ago today, the first of seven atomic bombs was detonated at Maralinga in South Australia. The bomb, code-named 'one tree' by the Australian and British Governments who conducted the tests, lead to widespread sickness and deaths from the fallout, which was spread heavily across Central Australia.

To commemorate the first atomic test at Maralinga in 1956, one tree will be planted by Alice Springs community members, on the Uniting church lawns in the Todd Mall today at 11am.

"This tree is being planted to recognise and remember the thousands of people who were affected by the nuclear weapons tests at Maralinga, whether by death, sickness or the destruction of country and a way of life. These things can never be replaced and can never be forgotten," said Betty Pearce from Lhere Artepe; a Native Title holder of the Alice Springs area.

Very little warning was given to Aboriginal people in the region, who consequently suffered significant radiation exposure from the blasts. Australian and British military personnel were also deliberately exposed, to test the effects of radiation on humans, clothing and equipment. People were forced to move from their country, which is still highly contaminated and uninhabitable today.

It was only in 2002 that the clean up of the Maralinga site was finally declared successful, though it was widely considered by many in the nuclear industry to be grossly inadequate.

"There are only two end products of the nuclear cycle; nuclear weapons or nuclear waste," said Jayne Alexander from Alice Action, a local social justice and environment group. "We have seen the results of weapons contamination here in Central Australia, let’s not wait around to find out what happens with the waste as well."

"This is a timely reminder to the rest of the country that Central Australia is not just 'the middle of nowhere', a place suitable for nuclear testing or radioactive waste, but a lived in, unique environment that has cultures and ecosystems with significant meanings for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians." added Reverend Tracy Spencer from the Uniting Church.