Tag: Walkajurra

How we win the West

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

The Walking for Country Film will be showing tomorrow (Friday 14th) in Melbourne as part of the Melbourne Documentary film festival at the Nova, Lygon st, Carlton. Get along and check it out!!!

Thursday 3rd August at the Fremantle Town Hall from 6pm.
Entry is by donation and we are urging all to come down, be inspired and motivated to see how we are going to win the west from mining uranium!  The night will include the official WA premiere screening of Fremantle film maker, Reza Nezamdoust’s “Walking For Country” — a 20 minute documentary of the 2015 Walkatjurra Walkabout, which has been doing the international film festival circuit for the past year and screens this month at both the No Nuke Film Festival in Taiwan and Melbourne Documentary Festival.

Highlighting the rich vein of music talent running through the Goldfields, Marcus McGuire will be performing his original music all the way from Kalgoorlie.  Director of the Conservation Council of WA,  Piers Verstegen will officially launch the Supreme Court Action to stop Yeelirrie uranium mine project and uphold environmental laws and long time activist and respected speaker on creating a nuclear free future, Dave Sweeney from Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Nuclear Free Campaigner. International speakers from Canada, Tiawan and the United States. Stay tuned for more updates as they are confirmed but lock in the date for an awesome night!

Shirley and Lizzie Wongabong have been in town this week and have been working together with the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) on their statement as part of the Tjiwarl Native Title holders group who have opposed the Yeelirrie uranium mine project for over 40 years.   They both continue to speak staunchly about their country and how they want the uranium left in the ground.
To keep this important work going click here for more details.

July 7 this year marked a historical day around the world as the United Nations adopted a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons.  The very worst of weapons of mass destruction are banned as 122 countries said ‘yes’ to humanity.  The Brunch with Bishop action was great timing to now urge nations to sign onto this important treaty!  People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND) members Matt and Hannah officially handed a letter to Julie Bishops office on Monday to urge the Turnbull government to sign the treaty to ban nuclear weapons.  The treaty will be opened for signing on September 20, and will formally come into force when 50 countries have signed and ratified the document.

Attached to this letter was the United Nations draft treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons that clearly outlines the actions for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The treaty requires of all ratifying countries “never under any circumstances to develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.” It also bans any transfer or use of nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices – and the threat to use such weapons. For more information see the ICAN website who have been instrumental and worked tirelessly on these negotiations at the United Nations to see a world free of nuclear weapons. Thank you!

WALKATJURRA WALKABOUT

A couple of spots have opened up for this years Walkatjurra Walkabout..  Register here

Or, You can  register here to go on our waiting list and if a spot comes up we will let you know.

BUT if you still want to come for a week or two then grab a few friends and drive on out. 

This years Walkatjurra Walkabout will be an important part of planning the next phase of the campaign.  Come and contribute, share and learn as we walk with Traditional Owners to Keep the uranium in the ground.

Together we can still stop this


Join Janice and individuals across WA and send your own photo message to the new Government!

Janice’s call to action could not be clearer: “Let’s stand strong against uranium mining. This thing can only be stopped if we all come together and stand strong against it.” 

Check out Janice’s video here
Keep following us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER and keep SHARING

Remember to tune in to Understorey – and the Radioactive Show this week for all the latest nuclear and peace news.

Please share this update with friends and family

Peace & Solidarity
Walkatjurra Walkabout crew

Stepping out against uranium mining

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

WANFA banner.jpg

Stepping out against uranium mining

Media Release 2nd May 2013


This Saturday 4th of May people from across Australia and around the World will be meeting with local Aboriginal people, Wangkatja people, to embark on a 3 week walk from Yeelirrie – WA’s largest uranium deposit to Leonora.

The 2013 walk will be the third walk through the Goldfields stepping out against uranium mining. This year has increased support and growing opposition to uranium mining after the Federal announcement to give a conditional, but not final, approval for Toro Energy’s proposed Wiluna uranium mine.

This year the walk will incorporate campaign training from the Australian Manufacturers Workers Union to help support communities who want to oppose uranium mining on their country.

Kado Muir chairperson of the West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance and Yeelirrie Traditional Custodian “Everybody is concerned about the potential for uranium mining. We all want to do our bit – to send the message that we don’t want uranium mining on our country. We’ve fought against uranium for over 40 years. We know uranium is different. Yeelirrie – in my area – is known as the place of death. We’ve always know that uranium must be left in the ground.”

“Between Wiluna and Leonora there is the potential for three uranium mines, that’s all the country we travel across, live on and hunt our kangaroos and goanna and emus on. If these uranium mines go ahead, we’ll lose our country for the next 10,000 years.”

“We’ve already had mining in this area for over 100 years; we’re still waiting to see any significant benefit. It is talked about but there’s no evidence. Every new company comes in with new promises but we never see any change.”

Marcus Atkinson, walk organiser and campaigner for the Anti Nuclear Alliance of WA said “The walk has been so important in connecting people with the local communities and the environment teaching people that the area is important.”

“Since the Federal conditional approval for the proposed Wiluna uranium mine more and more people have joined the walk. This is a new beginning for action and opposition to the proposed Wiluna uranium mine and other proposed uranium mines in the area like Yeelirrie, Lake Maitland and Mulga Rocks.”

“We are determined to keep WA nuclear free” he concluded.

Media Contact:

Kado Muir: Chair WANFA 0477184957 – kadomuir@gmail.com

Marcus Atkinson: Campaigner ANAWA 0400505765 – marcus@footprintsforpeace.org

Committing to the Walk

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

Dear Walkers,

Thank you to those of you who have already registered through the form on the website www.walkingforcountry.com.   The walk is 8 weeks away now. Exciting times!!

We are in the process of trying to order food and lock in transport, and as such, we really need to start confirming numbers.

Given the nature of being a mobile community in the desert with only one big water tank and one kitchen truck (don’t worry, these are re-fillable, but we need some planning to make it happen), we do have a maximum capacity of walkers that we can accommodate at any one time.

REGISTRATION

 To help us confirm numbers and also start purchasing the food, we are asking that people pay a $50 (per adult deposit) to secure your place.  If you have already registered online, many thanks, and we look forward to walking on country with you.

Please make this deposit as soon as you can, we ask that all registrations and deposits are made by the 10th July so as we can start ordering food and other necessaries.

This $50 will count towards your first contribution of the $5-$10 a day that we are requesting people pay towards food during the walk.  If you want to come but are unable to make the $50 deposit by the 10th July, please contact me and we can arrange something.

Please transfer the $50 (per family or adult joining) to the Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group (details below).

NOTE:  When you’re making the deposit please ensure that you put your name in the reference field so we can make sure who had paid!  If you are a family registering, you can use your last name, and please indicate how many people are included.

Direct Deposit – Bendigo Bank

Account Name: Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group

BSB: 633-000

Account Number: 137443347

Reference: YOUR NAME (& number of people coming with you if a family e.g.  Hogan x5)

 

A note on TRANSPORT….

We are in the process of booking buses to take people up to the start of the walk.  We need to confirm numbers before we finalise the bus bookings.  Hence this rego confirmation and deposit process!

We have also updated the registration form, so those of you who have already registered we have a couple of other questions to help with the transport logistics..

Do you need a ride to Yeelirrie?

We will be running a bus from Perth to Yeelirrie at a cost of $80 per adult, or from Kalgoorlie for a cost of $50 per adult

There are some people taking their own cars up to join us at the start of the walk and we are encouraging people to car-pool.  I will be setting up a car-pool document to share in the next few days to help people organise to share rides.  I will keep you posted on this!

To recap…. Please do the following:

  1. Fill out the registration form online
  2. Make a $50 deposit to FANG bank account to secure your place
  3. Let us know of you need a ride to Yeelirrie

Exciting times!!!!  Looking forward to meeting you all soon when we begin!

More updates to come over the next few weeks in preparation.

Please remember that we would love it if you were able to do some fundraising for the walk!  Host a winter solstice dinner party, sell some of your delicious jam, put on a poetry night, put together a raffle, talk to your networks, have a bbq…

Much respect and joy,

Lemme know if you have any questions,

Laura

0421 816 846

Message from Kado Muir, Traditional Owner, Yeelirrie

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

Walking for country is to reconnect people with land and culture. The Walkatjurra Walkabout is a pilgrimage across Wangkatja country in the spirit of our ancestors so together, we as present custodians, can protect our land and our culture for future generations.

My people have resisted destructive mining on our land and our sacred sites for generations. For over forty years we have fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie, we stopped the removal of sacred stones from Weebo and for the last twenty years we have stoped destruction of 200 sites at Yakabindie. We are not opposed to responsible development, but cannot stand wanton destruction of our land, our culture, and our environment.

We invite all people, from all places, to come together to walk with us, to send a clear message that we want the environment here, and our sacred places left alone.

Kado Muir
Traditional Owner, Yeelirrie

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