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ACT NOW!
SIGN PETITIONWRITE LETTER Roxstop-sample-letter2.pdf
CHANGE SUPERWATCH FILM ACT NOW

Write a letter to your local newspaper

ACT NOW!

Change your Super Fund

Did you know that most

superfunds invest in the

mineral resources industry which would include investments in BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto (big uranium exporter and majority owner of Ranger uranium mine in the NT). It is estimated that eight million Australians have shares in BHPB either directly or indirectly. Do you know what companies your super is invested in? Even some ‘ethical’ funds invest in uranium mining.

For more information visit:

Local engagement is really important

in raising awareness and can be as simple as organising an information stall with petitions, fact sheets, letters to your local politician to sign.

Sign the petition

Make it an issue in your local media.

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper outlining your concerns about Olympic Dam.

Here's a sample letter you can use.

Forward a link to friends, family

and others to spread awareness about Uranium mining in Australia.

The more people who know about it and act will make the difference to our country's future.

To sign the online

petition opposing the

expansion of Olympic Dam uranium

A number of short clips have been made to explain the dangers of the uranium industry.

Ask your local radio stations for

airtime to debate this important issue.

Click here to sign.

Roxstop-sample-letter2.pdf

Watch the film

Spread the word

http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/

issues/oz/ethical/ethicsarticles

Watch now.

Set up an information stall

Contact your local radio stations

http://www.roxstop-action.org/

About
YOU can STOP the expansion of Australia's BIGGEST Uranium Mine.The Roxstop website has been designed to help you take positive action to oppose the proposed expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been released and we are now waiting on the Federal, South Australian and NT Governments to make the decision to approve or not to appove the expansion. This decision is expected to be made September 2011. NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT URANIUM MINING AND ITS DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES.Why? The proposed expansion of Olympic Dam uranium mine in South Australia, owned by BHP Billiton poses a grave threat to the environment, wasting and polluting water, infringing the rights of indigenous people of the region and will inevitably contribute to weapons proliferation.BHP enjoys the most ridiculous privileges through the Roxby DownsIndenture Act which exempts them from significant legislation includingthe Aboriginal Heritage Act, the Water Resources Act and the Freedom ofInformation Act. Their proposed three fold expansion will create massiveamounts of waste, which is already being mismanaged and has alreadycontaminated the environment undetected for years. These tailings arecarcinogenic and toxic.How can any business be deemed to be ethical and within the law underthese conditions? In a democratic society, why is BHP Billiton allowed tooperate outside the laws that govern us all? We need to take action now!Uranium mining is set to expand in Australia unless we actively oppose it.BHPB wants approval for its production at Olympic Dam to radically increaseand plans for more uranium mines in Australia are underway. Uranium isradioactive and mining it unleashes a potential for serious harm to us, ourchildren and our childrens children.
uranium-protest

Videos

WAKE UP
When the Dust Settles
Out of Site, Out of Mine
All that Glitters
No Nuke Dump in the NT

WAKE UP
When the Dust Settles
Out of Site, Out of Mine
All that Glitters
No Nuke Dump in the NT

DVDs

A Hard Rain

Are you worried about global warming? Wondering if nuclear power is the solution? Confused about the uranium debate? Questioning the facts behind the nuclear push? Then you must see A Hard Rain, the latest film by David Bradbury. A Hard Rain explores ‘the other side’ of the nuclear debate. The real issues and grim truth.

Order from Frontline Films on

(02) 6684 0015 or visit

Public Enemy Number One

For most of his working life, controversial Australian journalist Wilfred Burchett

chose to report from the "other side". His unorthodox views and activities caused

him to be labelled a traitor by man.

Order from Frontline Films on

(02) 6684 0015 or visit

www.frontlinefilms.com.au

Blowin' In The Wind

A deeply disturbing film about the use and effects of Depleted Uranium munitions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and how this danger is now coming to our backyard.

Order from Frontline Films on

(02) 6684 0015 or visit

Jabiluka

The struggle of the Mirrar people against the Jabiluka Uranium mine. Energy

Resources of Australia (ERA) pushes to open a new uranium mine that is surrounded by the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.

Order from Frontline Films on

(02) 6684 0015 or visit

www.frontlinefilms.com.au

Gallery

mining-company-gates
roxby-downs
bhp-biliton
olympic-dam-uranium
tailings
olympic-dam-arial
worker-olympic-dam.jpg
olympic-dam-overhead.jpg
uranium-mining-sa.jpg
uranium-mining-environment.jpg
indigenous-australians-gather
roxby
bhpbilliton

Contact

Limited free copies of the When the Dust Settles and Out of Site, Out of Mine DVDs are available for individuals or groups wanting to take action about the Olympic Dam expansion. To order please contact info_roxstop-action.org by filling in the Roxstop email form above or ph 02 6684 0015. We would request help with covering postage costs.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to assist with making further copies of these resources please send cheque/money order to:

Frontline Film Foundation (ROXSTOP), PO Box 1250, Mullumbimby NSW 2482

Direct Deposit BSB: 802 185; A/C no.: 86527; Reference: “ROXSTOP”

Other films about the nuclear issue by David Bradbury include Blowin' in the Wind, A Hard Rain, Jabiluka and Public Enemy Number One. They can be purchased from the

Frontline Shop.

Facts
The FACTS worth knowingabout Uranium mining.Volumes of greenhouse gases are emitted throughout the nuclear chain from mining, milling, transporting, building nuclear power plants and reprocessing uranium for use in weapons and nuclear power.Uranium is the heaviest of all minerals. The percentage of uranium to ore is quite small in commercially mined uranium, averaging 0.3% in Australia but as high as 15% in Canada. The ore is, therefore, milled to concentrate the uranium, resulting in a marketable product, uranium oxide (U308), also known as ‘yellowcake’. Because yellowcake contains the three commercially useful isotopes, it is radioactive.Uranium isotopes remain radioactive for millions of years: U238 – also known as depleted uranium - has a half-life (the time it takes for it to lose half its radioactivity) of 4.5 billion years, U235: 704 million years, and U234: 245,000 years. Radon is a radioactive gas released from uranium decay.In Australia three kinds of mining process are used to extract uranium:underground (as currently used at Olympic Dam), surface (open pit, as used at Ranger, NT), or acid solution/insitu leach, (as used at Beverley & Honeymoon). Tunnel mining poses risks to both human health and environment. Besides the risk of collapse and poor or dangerous air quality in underground operations, uranium mines present a dangerous scenario for workers due to exposure to radon gas and uranium dust.After ore extraction, uranium must be separated from the other minerals inthe matrix. This is done by crushing and leaching the rock using water and sulfuric acid. This process uses enormous amounts of water which is contaminated with acid, unwanted minerals and leftover uranium, and contains long lived decay products which continue to pose a risk to health and environment. It is left on site in tailings dams, in an attempt to minimisedust and because there is no safe means of disposal. The sludge that tailing water covers is 85% as radioactive as the uranium extracted and it continues to release the deadly radon gas.Tailings dams all over the world have had leakage problems and there are many documented instances of increased exposure to radiation in peopleliving downstream from these tailings dams through consuming contaminated water, fish and crops. In 2004 Olympic Dam uranium mine reported a leak from their tailings dams system that had gone unnoticed for several years. Local wildlife have been also been killed by drinking the tailings water, particularly water birds.Workers and the community are exposed to serious health risks at all stages of the nuclear chain from mining to transport, use and disposal of nuclear materials including waste. Workers are at risk from radiation exposure through inhalation of radioactive dust or direct contamination from the mine.The permitted levels of radiation exposure for workers and the public have dropped dramatically over the years as research indicates harmful effects still exist at much lower exposure levels than what was originally thought to be safe.The health and environmental effects are felt in many mining communitiesworldwide. Recent reports from China indicate that there are both serious health impacts on communities living near uranium mines and grave consequences for workers who speak out on the issue. Navajo homelands in the US are a notable example of former mining communities where residents now experience high lung cancer rates. Over half of the groundwater is contaminated by defunct uranium mines.Globally, the nuclear industry has a history of developing uranium mines, nuclear tests, and waste dumps on indigenous peoples lands against their wishes. Australia is no different. Unfortunately, lack of infrastructure and investment in remote areas, has allowed mining companies to pressure indigenous communities to permit mining on their sacred lands, in exchange for basic services like school and hospitals. Royalties are often an enticement in areas where poverty and lack of services prevail due to government neglect.

Toxic from start to end

Olympic Dam
Olympic Dam Uranium MineOlympic Dam is Australia’s biggest uranium resource.It is also known for its copper, gold and silver deposits. The mine is located in the South Australian desert on the land of the Kokatha people (and draws water from the land of the Arabunna people) outside the town of Roxby Downs.In 2005 BHP Billiton (BHPB) took over Western Mining Corporation inheriting not only ownership of Olympic Dam but the Roxby Indenture Act. This allows for extravagant exceptions to environmental and cultural heritage legislation protection.BHPB intends to expand the mine’s capacity from 4,000 tonnes of processed uranium (yellowcake) per annum to 15,000 tonnes.This will increase the tailings (waste product) pollution, greenhouse emissions, water consumption and destruction of indigenous land while contributing further to nuclear proliferation worldwide.The expansion of Olympic Dam poses great risks to the environment. Uranium is toxic from start to end of the nuclear chain. Uranium mines throughout the world have a record of accidents and leaks. In 1994 Olympic Dam uranium mine tailings dams (massive ponds that hold more than ten million tonnes of tailings a year) were found to have been leaking for several years releasing up to five million cubic metres of contaminated water into subsoil.The tailings which contain up to 85% of the original radioactivity willincrease to 42 million tonnes with the expansion. There is not enough water to contain this amount in the holding dams so BHPB plan to simply dump mountains of these tailings on the surface of the earth, covering thousands of hectares.While most of the water will come from the energy intensive desalination plant, up to 42 million litres a day will be extracted from the Great Artesian Basin at no cost to BHPB.

STOP NOW

EIS
What is an EIS?An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document which outlinesthe environmental impacts and how the company intends to managethese impacts.The Olympic Dam EIS has been released by BHP Billiton and is currently being assessed by the Federal and South Australian governments.The parameters of the EIS (determined under the former Howardgovernment) excluded issues relating to the use of exported uranium inthe nuclear fuel cycle but will include “the construction, operation andrehabilitation of the mine site and associated infrastructure, includingpower, water, gas, rail, airport and port, ore processing operations,the management of tailings and waste rock and transport of uraniumwithin Australia for export.”Source: Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam operations at Roxby Downs.

The EIS and the process is outlined here http://www.olympicdameis.sa.gov.au/

Nuclear Fuel
nuclear-fuel-cycle

Nuclear Fuel CycleOlympic Dam is Australia’s biggest uranium resource.The mine is located in the South Australian desert on the land of the Kokatha people (and draws water from the land of the Arabunna people) outside the town of Roxby Downs.

YOU can help put an end to the cycle and STOP the expansion of Uranium mining in Australia.

ACT NOW!

Politicians
Talk to your PoliticiansThe video "All that Glitters is not Gold" can be a useful tool in lobbying your local Member of Parliament. Make an appointment to meet with your Member to show him/her. Prepare questions before hand. Do some research and find out their position before you meet with them.General TIPSSilly mistakes can get politicians quickly off side: Politicians willprobably become hostile if you attribute to them comments that theynever made, if you incorrectly state their party’s position on an issue andif you refuse to give credit where credit is due.Don’t just target politicians who you suspect will be sympathetic:Often lobbyists make the mistake of ignoring politicians who they believewill be unsympathetic to their cause. Many such politicians just need tobe reasoned with. Getting them on side, even if not fully, could be veryimportant for your campaign.How to lobby effectively when meeting politcians[the following is adapted from an International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) handout]Before the meetingPrepare for the meeting: Brainstorm some questions you would like to ask the politician. You should have a firm idea about what you would like him or her to do. You should also be aware of any remaks the politician might have made publicly about uranium mining or any work he or she has done in the area.Know party policies.During the meeting Introduce yourself: Remember that first impressions count. Be conscious of how you present. Most politicians expect alobbyist to be cordial, informed, serious, reasonable, enthusiastic and confident. Most wont warm to you if youre grumpy, noticably tired, argumentative, frank, impolite, patronising or misinformed. Youre not there to pick a fight, no matter what your views of the politician.Introduce the problem: Before making any requests, its a good idea to spend some time introducing the problem at hand and explaining your role in trying to overcome it. Be sure to praise the politician for any work that his or her party might have done to promote renewables and clean fuels.Make your requests: Youre a lobbyist, which means that meetings shouldnt be merely informational. They should be about convincing the politician of the merits of taking tangible steps to support your cause. Some people like to ask for more than they expect to get. You should always be willing to compromise. Its a good idea to have both hard and easy asks.Clarify what is to be done: Before concluding the meeting, re-statewhat has been agreed to, including any undertakings made by you. If thepolitician has encouraged you to speak or write to another person, be sure to collect that persons contact details. Arrange another meeting with the politician if that is needed.After the meetingFollow it up: Follow up whether the politician has fulfilled any promisesmade at the meeting. If he or she hasnt done so, send a polite reminder letter. Be careful not to hassle, but at the same time dont allow your good efforts to go to waste simply because you didnt follow things up. Politicians are busy people and sometimes need reminders.Making DemandsWhat influence does the politician have? The politicians influence willdepend on the position that he or she holds. Consider these questions: Is the politician in Government, in Opposition or representing a minor party? Does he or she have any special responsibilities, eg. as a minister or spokesperson for a particular portfolio? How you answer these questions will affect the kinds of demands you make.No politician is powerless to act: Many politicians, particularly backbenchers, will feel that they are unable to help you in your efforts to promote your agenda. However, all politicians are empowered to use the Parliament as a forum to voice concerns, and all have some influence within their party. If they support your views, there should be nothing stopping them from helping.Encourage the politician to use the Parliament to affect change: Itsimportant if youre to become an effective lobbyist to know a bit about theprocedures of the Parliament. Politicians are able to give adjournment speeches, raise matters of urgency, raise matters of public importance, introduce a motion, table a document, call for a parliamentary inquiry, ask questions without notice, ask questions with notice, introduce a bill, amend a bill and more. Could any of these powers help you?For more information, go to www.aph.gov.au.Encourage the politician to use the committee system to affect change: Many politicians are heavily involved in parliamentary committee work. Some regard this as their most important function. Committee reports can help to determine Government priorities and positions. Find out which committees, if any, the politician youre meeting with is involved in, and learn about how they operate. Are there any current inquiriesthat might allow you to promote your agenda? And are there any inquiries that should be set up?Encourage the politician to influence party priorities and positions: All politicial parties represented in the Parliament hold party room meetings: At these meetings, parliamentarians have the opportunity to voice their opinions about the partys priorities and positions. You might request that the politician raise a particular point about the consequences of expanding Olympic Dam for consideration at the next party room meeting.Encourage the politician to adopt the cause: Politicians have influencebeyond the party room and Parliament. This is something that lobbyists too often forget. The politician might be willing to write an opinion piece about uranium mining for a newspaper, send out a press release, hold a press conference, or include an article in his or her newsletter to constituents. Many have good networks and emailing lists to promote the cause.Email us with feedback from your meetingInclude your electorate and who you met: info_roxstopaction.org.To find out your electorate and MPVisit the Australian Electoral Commission website: http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/

Tony Burke,

Federal Environment Minister

Mike Rann, SA Premier

MP Burke
Contact Tony BurkeMany people in Australia are concerned about the environment. In fact in a Newspoll dated 30 May 2006 66% of those polled didn’t want any new uranium mines in Australia or wanted uranium mining to stop altogether. The Australian people need to remind our elected leaders of these facts. Both State and Federal governments will need to approve the expansion after assessing the EIS for BHP Billiton to proceed with its plans. South Australian Premier Mike Rann has shown much support for uranium mining. However, as Federal government approval is also required the Rudd government is in a position to affect the outcome. Tony Burke is the Federal Minister for the Environment and can intervene if environmental concerns are not adequately addressed under the EPBC (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conversation) Act. Let Tony know you want him to stand by his anti-nuclear convictions in the party room.The Hon Tony Burke AM,MP,Federal Minister for the EnvironmentPO Box 6022, House of Representatives,Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600Telephone: (02) 6277 7640Fax: (02) 6273 6101

Tony.Burke.MP_aph.gov.au

Resources
ANTI NUCLEAR ORGANISATIONSAnti-nuclear Alliance WA Australian Conservation foundationArid Lands Environment CentreBeyond Nuclear Brisbane friends of the EarthClimate Action Network AustraliaDepleted Uranium Silent killerEnvironment Centre NTfoE Clean futures Collectivefriends of the Earth Australiafood Irradiation Watch International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear WeaponsIrati Wanti Medical Association for the Prevention of War No Waste AllianceNuclear free AustraliaQld Nuclear free Alliance The Wilderness Society

www.anawa.org.au

www.acfonline.org.au

www.alec.org.au

www.beyondnuclear.org

www.brisbane.foe.org.au

www.cana.net.au

www.dusk-qld.info

www.ecnt.org

www.adelaide.foe.org.au

www.foe.org.au/campaigns/anti-nuclear

www.foodirradiationinfo.org

www.icanw.org.au

www.iratiwanti.org

www.mapw.org.au

www.no-waste.org

www.nukefreeaus.org

www.nuclearfreequeensland.org

www.nuclearfreeaustralia.com.au

Research
Research PapersBEIR 2005National Research Council (of the US National Academy of Sciences), 2005, “Health Risks from Exposure to Low Levels of Ionizing RadiationBEIR VII - Phase 2written by the NRC’s Board on Radiation Research EffectsAn Illusion of Protection: The unavoidable limitations of safeguards onnuclear materials and the export of uranium to China.To download visit:Yellowcake Country? Australia’s uranium industry; Nuclear power: nosolution to climate change; and Empowering Change: clean energysolutions to climate change.To download visit:

www.nap.edu/books/030909156X/html

www.nap.edu/ catalog/6230.html

www.acfonline.org.au

www.foe.org.au

Thanks

Thanks to...Roxstop-Action was assisted by the JB Seed Fund and the Frontline Film Foundation. Written by Kim Stewart and Treena Lenthall. DVD by David Bradbury. Graphics Design by Alex Stewart. Original photographs by Jessie Boylan. Website designed by Stephanie Shoebridge. Special thanks to Jim Green, Gavin Mudd, Robin Taubenfeld and Friends of the Earth Brisbane Anti Nuclear Collective.
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ACT NOW

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Olympic Dam

Intro