On the 125th anniversary of the Australian Workers Union, nuclear boosters are telling delegates at their National Conference this week on the Gold Coast that they should embrace uranium mining and nuclear power.  What they are neglecting to mention is the long history of health and safety risks attendant on the industry, and the worldwide movement away from nuclear technology as the value of uranium continues to nose-dive.

“Our union has always been a major advocate for the removal of Labor’s no-new-mines policy which has held back the development of uranium mining for a number of years,” said Bill Ludwig, AWU National President, as reported ont he AWU website.

“The AWU supports the removal of legislative bans on exploration for uranium in Victoria and NSW and the development of uranium mines in Queensland.

AWU National Secretary, Paul Howes, was also boosting nuclear, telling delegates that nuclear power is emission-free and sustainable.

“We also welcome the increasing realization of the important role which uranium mining and export has in providing sustainable energy security to countries  utilizing nuclear energy to generate electricity… Nuclear energy which is supplied by our uranium is emissions free.”

Both Howes and Ludwig continue to defy the global progress towards denuclearisation and the realisation since Fukushima that nuclear technology is never safe, even in the most technologically advanced nations.

Spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, Kim Stewart says, “insurance companies for many years have recognised that the risks of nuclear power are too great, so they won’t insure the technology or the homes of people who live near them.  As for uranium mining, it earns less export dollars than cheese.  Cheese doesn’t leave thousands of years of contaminating waste, displace indigenous peoples or make weapons with the potenital to kills millions.”

Queensland is planned to becoming an industrial wasteland with 34 coal mines and 40,000 coal seam gas mines, pipelines, railway and port facilities scheduled for development. At 71 years of age June Norman will walk the 500km to showcase the beautiful Australian country and farmland the Wandoan Coal Mine and Queensland CSG industry will destroy.

June Norman, a great grand mother, shared her desire for support for walk along the proposed gas pipeline and coal rail corridor to peacefully highlight the need to create a sustainable future whilst connecting with communities affected by these industries.

“I’ve seen the impacts of the mining industry and I am really concerned, where will my grandchildren source their food and what quality will their water be? This industry needs to be slowed down and managed in a more sustainable manner.” said June.

June Norman has decided to combine her passion for walking and her passion to leaving her grandchildren a sustainable and healthy future.