From the Barkly to Brazil: Resistance to radioactive waste dump plan in the spotlight
It’s a long way from Tennant Creek to Rio de Janeiro, but the story of a controversial radioactive waste dump in the Barkly region of the Northern Territory will feature on the big screen in Brazil today.
Muckaty Voices – a ten minute film that documents the opposition of Traditional Owners to a proposed national radioactive waste dump at Muckaty, north of Tennant Creek – is a finalist in the first International Uranium Film Festival.
The film, produced by the Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) and Enlightning Productions, will be screened before an international audience in Rio de Janeiro. It can be viewed via: http://www.
“The story of the community campaign against this highly contested radioactive waste dump plan is increasingly being heard around Australia and across the world,” said BNI coordinator Natalie Wasley.
“If Minister Ferguson or federal Labor had hoped to sneak this through under the radar then they are heading for disappointment. Traditional Owners and a growing range of supporters are determined to defeat the Muckaty dump plan”.
The festival screening follows recent protests in Tennant Creek and Darwin and comes ahead of the June sitting of federal Parliament. Legislation explicitly naming Muckaty as the only site under active consideration for the dump is expected to pass the Senate in this session.
A community rally will be held in Canberra at the Parliament opening on June 14 involving Traditional Owners and leading civil society groups, including trade unions, health professionals and national environment groups.
“The federal government’s approach is inconsistent with international industry best practise and with Australia’s obligations under international agreements, including the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, said Ms Wasley.
“It is unacceptable to impose a radioactive dump on an unwilling and impoverished community. We will continue our work to ensure the real story is told and that the government commits to a more responsible and just way to manage Australia’s radioactive waste”.
The film has been short listed from a large field of entries by a jury comprised of academics, scientists, film industry representatives and journalists.
Details of the full Festival program can be found at http://www.