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8 May 2006

United front against uranium mining, exports and nuclear energy.

Australia’s major environment groups have today reaffirmed their united opposition to uranium mining and exports, and to nuclear energy as a solution to climate change, on the eve of the Federal Environment Minister’s report to the United Nations on Australia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In a communiqué released today, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, The Wilderness Society, the Australian Conservation Foundation and 13 other groups have spelt out the environment movements’ opposition to all aspects of the nuclear industry.

“Support for uranium mining and its export means support for a dangerous and environmentally destructive process to generate nuclear energy and develop nuclear weapons,” The Wilderness Society’s national campaigns director Alec Marr said.

“Total opposition to this lies at the heart of the Australian environment movement.”

The groups also moved to clear the air on recent misleading claims that nuclear energy would help solve the problems of rising greenhouse gas emissions.

“Nuclear energy is no solution to climate change. Even if there was a doubling of global nuclear energy output by 2050 it would only reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Chief Executive Steve Shallhorn said.

“Nuclear power poses unacceptable proliferation and security risks, it is not clean, it is not cheap, and there is no solution to the intractable problem of nuclear waste.

Four or five countries have developed nuclear weapons using their ‘peaceful’ nuclear facilities – India , Israel , South Africa , Pakistan and possibly North Korea .

“The adverse environmental impacts of uranium mining in Australia have been significant. The prosecution of ERA, majority owned by Rio Tinto, over its operations at the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu highlights the risks,” ACF Executive Director Don Henry said.

“ Australia can immediately move to achieve affordable deep cuts in greenhouse pollution by adopting national laws requiring emissions reductions, and strongly promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency."

The “Joint Australian Environment Groups’ communique on the nuclear industry and climate change” has been signed by The Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace Australia-Pacific, Nature Conservation Council NSW, Total Environment Centre , Conservation Council of SA, Conservation Council of WA, Friends of the Earth, Environment Centre North Territory, AIDWATCH, Environs Kimberley, Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra, Queensland Conservation Council, Australian Toxics Network, Environment Victoria, Australian Marine Conservation Society.

Click here to download a copy of the communiqué (28kb)

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For more information on Uranium and Nuclear issues contact:
Emma King at ECNT:
Phone: 08 8981 1984
Email: ecnturanium@iinet.net.au

For more information on the no waste dump campaign and/or Darwin's 'No Radioactive Waste Dump Committee':
Justin Tutty at No Waste Alliance: Email Justin Ph: 8945-6810
Nat Wasley at Arid Lands Environment Centre: Email Nat Ph: 8952-2011

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The Environment Centre of the Northern Territory
3/98 Woods St, Darwin » Postal Address: GPO Box 2120, Darwin 0801 NT
Phone: 08 8981 1984 » Fax: 08 8941 0387 » E-mail: admin@ecnt.org