| Dozers rolling
at Jabiluka signal a huge win
Since the discovery of uranium in 1971, the word Jabiluka has meant conflict over resources. Jabiluka has posed some of the big questions of our time: what rights do indigenous people really have over their country? Are some places simply too valuable to sacrifice to industrialisation? Are mining rights more important then human rights? Who decides how our future will look? |
| The first truckload of uranium ore
returning underground , August 13th 2003 Photo: Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation Rehabilitation of the Jabiluka mine site closes a chapter on this 30 year resource conflict and struggle of ideas. The hugely successful campaign waged by the Mirrar people in conjunction with environment groups and thousands of activists across the country and around the world has generated very positive results. The latest chapter of the campaign began in 1996 with the election of the Howard Government and a renewed attempt to mine Jabiluka. Seven years later with rehabilitation underway, indigenous rights, anti-nuclear and environmental campaigners have achieved one of their most significant victories in Australian history. As in all conflicts that are resolved or en-route to resolution, the players race to imprint their version of history on the collective memory. The mining industry may spin the outcome as a maturing or a "greening" of the industry or a cost-saving exercise, government may attribute the outcome to a continuing wea k uranium market. But the 5000 Australians who protested for over 8 months in Kakadu in 1998 (527 of whom were arrested in peaceful demonstrations), and the many other thousands who have marched, written and prayed for an end to Jabiluka have an understanding beyond any public relations positioning. They have affirmed the ability of ordinary people to collectively achieve extraordinary things - to shape events, exert political influence and become future makers. |
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The Mirrar people never accepted the inevitability
of mining at Jabiluka, despite constant company, industry and government
assurances that the project would go ahead. In their struggle to protect
their country and culture they made Jabiluka a millstone for one of the
world's largest resource companies and have redefined future resource
conflicts in Australia and internationally by elevating the rights of
indigenous people everywhere to determine what happens to their country
and their community.
Mirrar Senior traditional owner with Vernadine on country (Photo: Sandy Scheltema) Despite the rehabilitation announcement the Jabiluka
mineral lease will, for now, remain. As long as there is a mineral lease
in Kakadu there is the risk that somebody will want to mine it at some
future point. Retiring the mineral lease and incorporating the area into
the jointly managed Kakadu National Park would signal the final end to
the Jabiluka story and ensure the permanent protection of the region. The efforts to stop Jabiluka saw a campaign that travelled from the wetlands and rock country of Kakadu to our lounge rooms and boardrooms, to our churches, campuses and city stre ets, to the Australian and European Parliaments and UNESCO's World Heritage Committee. All these efforts have made a real and potent difference - working and walking together with courage, creativity and commitment we have stopped Jabiluka and helped create the space needed for a better future for the people and country of Kakadu, and the world. Plans are currently underway to organise a National Day of Celebration on Jabiluka in late October or early November. For further details of the nearest celebration contact point or if you're keen to organise your own Jabiluka celebration email Dimity Hawkins at dimityhawk@optusnet.com.au - Dave Sweeney and Mark Wakeham _______________________________________ |