introduction
The debate over uranium mining at Jabiluka, located in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory, sparked one of Australia's largest environmental, Indigenous-rights and anti-nuclear campaigns. Kakadu is Australia's largest terrestrial national park and was World Heritage listed in 1981 for its exceptional natural and cultural values. From its extensive collection of ancient Indigenous artworks, to its array of rare species, pristine wetlands and complex ecosystems, Kakadu is a remarkable part of the world.
Why it is chose for mining?
In addition to its ecological and cultural values, Kakadu is also extremely rich in terms of uranium reserves, large deposits of which were found in the park during the 1960s. Australia ranks first in the world for Economic Demonstrated Resources of uranium ore, a highly sought-after mineral which is exported to various countries around the world. While Australian uranium is used primary to produce energy in nuclear power plants, in some parts of the world uranium is used make nuclear weapons. This is why uranium mining is said to increase the risk of nuclear war and one of the main reasons many people feel strongly opposed to it.
Why we oppose?
Other reasons why uranium mining is a contentious issue relate to the radioactive properties of uranium itself, and the potential for areas around mine sites to become contaminated if radioactive waste products are not properly disposed of. Nuclear power is also considered by many to be risky, as accidents at nuclear power plants can be extremely dangerous. Uranium mining in Kakadu has been a particularly controversial issue in Australia because many people believe it poses a threat to the park's World Heritage values, including the Aboriginal communities who live in Kakadu.
Thread to the aboriginal
The Mirarr people are the original Aboriginal inhabitants of the land where the Jabiluka mine was built. In their opinion, the greatest threat posed by the opening of the mine was to their ability to live in accordance with traditional Aboriginal beliefs and customs. For them, stopping uranium mining at Jabiluka became an issue of achieving social justice and equity. The mining industry, on the other hand, believed the issue was about resourceful land management and argued that the income generated from the Jabiluka uranium mine would benefit the entire country, without compromising the environment.
Responses
Amid public uproar, a mining company started extracting uranium from the Jabiluka mine in 1998 with the consent of the Australian Government. Soon after operations commenced, however, opposition mounted and large protests were held both within Australia and around the globe. At Jabiluka around 5000 people participated in protests which blocked entrance to the Jabiluka mine for a period of eight months. In addition to these individual actions, many anti-nuclear and Indigenous rights organisations fuelled the anti-Jabiluka campaign by raising awareness, organising petitions and lobbying politicians during this tumultuous period of national debate. It was not long before the controversy at Jabiluka attracted the attention of the United Nations Environmental Science and Cultural Organisation (commonly known as UNESCO). In 1998, a group of UNESCO representatives visited Kakadu to conduct an investigation which would determine whether or not the national park should be placed on their World Heritage Sites 'In Danger' list. Although in the end UNESCO did not conclude that uranium mining placed Kakadu 'In danger', the delegation that visited did express grave concern over the impact that mining may have on the area's cultural values in the future.
result from the ABORIGINES' protest
Due to the intense opposition the issue had generated from the Mirarr people and other anti-uranium proponents, mining at Jabiluka never recommenced. The uranium ore that had been extracted during the mine's short period of operation in the late 1990s was eventually re-inserted into the ground. An agreement has since been reached between the mining company and the Mirarr people, stipulating that the Jabiluka mine cannot re-open without the formal consent of the traditional land owners.
SUSTAINABILITY,social justice and equality
The debate over uranium mining at Jabiluka raises many important questions regarding sustainability, social justice and equity in Australia. Many argue that nuclear power is a much cleaner and more sustainable source of energy than fossil fuel-driven forms such as coal, which emit harmful greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. Opponents of nuclear power, however, argue that it is a risky alternative to methods currently in use because it can have harmful effects on living things that are exposed to it. These anti-nuclear proponents also argue that expansion of the nuclear energy industry significantly increases the threat of nuclear war.
INDIGENOUS and non-indegenous
The success of the Mirarr people's campaign to stop mining at Jabiluka represents an achievement in terms of social justice, but does not reflect that much equity exists between Australia's Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. An assessment of the processes of management involved in the Jabiluka debate reflects that the Mirarr people came from a socially disadvantaged position in their fight to stop mining. It also reveals how the wishes and rights of the traditional Aboriginal land owners were, at various stages, compromised by the interests of the mining industry and the federal government, which supported uranium mining at Jabiluka during this period. This disadvantage is representative of the legacy of subjugation that has characterised Australia's relationship with its Indigenous peoples over the past two centuries.
- This data shows that the years of age of aborigines and non aborigines.
- Both male and female of aborigines has the lower age years of age compare to non-aborigines.
- This is because non-aborigines are always under protected most of the tie and have most of the comfort given by the government.
- Statistics such as these reveal that most Indigenous Australians do not share the same opportunities and quality of life as non-Indigenous Australians.