Remember Maralinga
Tuesday, 26 September, 2006
ECNT
On Wednesday people around the country will be gathering to mark the 50th anniversary of the commencement of atomic testing at Maralinga. On September 27 1956, the British dropped the first of many atomic bombs on Maralinga - a warhead manufactured using Australian uranium.
"It’s important to remember that uranium trading exacerbates the international spread of nuclear weapons," ECNT Uranium Campaigner Emma King said.
"Even the International Atomic Energy Agency admits that its inspection regime is inadequate to monitor or control the use of nuclear materials.
"When Australia sold uranium to Britain for use on weapons development then invited them to bomb us with it, little was known about the devastating effects of radiation.
"Now we do know, but our government is still contemplating expanding uranium mining and selling it overseas to add to the available stocks of dangerous nuclear material."
In Darwin local people, including a representative of the Atomic ex-Servicemans Association, will be gathering in Raintree Park to remind people of the dangers of the nuclear chain.
"The effects of fallout from the British atomic tests in Australia are still being felt," NWA spokesperson Justin Tutty said.
"Australian servicemen were directly exposed to fallout from the tests, as were local Aboriginal people. These people and their families are still living with the effects of this exposure every day."
'Remember Maralinga'
Wednesday September 27 2006 'Field of Thunder'
Raintree Park Knuckey St Darwin Sunday October 1st, 5 pm to 10 pm
12 noon to 2 pm, speakers from 12.30 Aviation Institute, Charles Eaton Dve, Marrara