Wednesday, 30 August, 2006

by Michaela Stubbs
Indymedia

This morning 20 concerned citizens conducted a peaceful protest at the Parkins Brinkerhoff office in Melbourne. This was part of a national action highlighting the company's role in imposing an unwanted nuclear waste dump on Northern Territory communities.

Concerned Melbourne citizens disrupted ‘business as usual’ at the Parsons Brinckerhoff office this morning as part of a national day of action opposing the federal government's plan to impose a nuclear dump on the NT. Parsons Brinckerhoff is the company contracted to assess the proposed dump sites.

Actions at Parsons Brinckerhoff offices in Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, and Melbourne today highlight the company's involvement with the dirty and dangerous nuclear industry. The company has previously been involved in the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor, the Beverley uranium mine and the abandoned plan to dump nuclear waste in SA.

“Parsons Brinckerhoff is a key player in the expansion of Australia’s nuclear industry, collaborating with the Howard government to push ahead with new uranium mines, nuclear reactors and waste dumps in Australia” said Dr. Jim Green, nuclear campaigner with Friends of the Earth. “Last year the Howard government passed legislation overriding NT environmental and Aboriginal heritage protection laws to facilitate the nuclear dump project. The planned dump is an unwanted, unnecessary imposition and Parsons Brinckerhoff should play no part in the government's grubby, racist nuclear dump plans."

In Melbourne a group of twenty peaceful protesters entered the Parsons Brinckerhoff office to demand that the company end its involvement in the planned dump. The protesters also asked to view a copy of the Community Consultation Plan for the nuclear dump - which the company would not provide. Meanwhile, a colourful contingent dressed in radiation protection suits engaged with the public on St.Kilda Rd.

Communities surrounding all of the sites being assessed in the Northern Territory – Harts Range, Mt Everard, and Fishers Ridge – are strongly opposed to hosting a nuclear waste dump for the next few thousand years.

Danya Brynx from the Australian Student Environment Network said: “We don’t want radioactive waste transported through or stored in our communities. There is still no safe way to store nuclear waste. The proposed NT waste dump will be a toxic blight on Australia and a direct threat to humans and environment for thousands of years. This mornings action is part of an ongoing campaign that will highlight the involvement of such companies in the dirty, dangerous and polluting nuclear industry.

"We are letting Parsons Brinckerhoff know that they can’t do the federal government's dirty work and get away with it."