Tag: Western

Walkatjurra Walkabout: Supreme Court Case and upcoming events

Marcus Atkinson1 Comment

Hi Everyone..

Its been pretty busy since the end of the walk and we had a great trip over to Adelaide for the 20th anniversary meeting of the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance.

Check out the ANFA webpage

There is alot going on at the moment and we really need your help to fundraise for the Supreme Court case to stop the Yeelirrie uranium mine from going ahead.

Many of you on this list have been on the walk and know Aunty Lizzy, Aunty Shirly and Vicky who are going to the Supreme Court on the 16th of Novemebr to Stop the Yeelirrie uranium kine from going ahead.

It is really crucial at the moment that we raise the money to cover all the court costs. We have raised $16,000 dollars so far, but need another $34,000..  Please forward this to friends and family and lets raise this money in the next 5 weeks…  If you want to do a fundraiser then let us know and we can help with any info and support that you need..

This is an incredible undertaking by these three strong Tjiwarl women who are trying to protect important cultural heritage sites that are part of the Seven Sisters Dreaming songline.

Take a look at the video below and make a donation here

Dirty Deals 10 Years on – the story of uranium mining in Malawi

WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 

6PM – 8PM 
THE NAVY CLUB
64 HIGH STREET, FREMANTLE 

FACEBOOK EVENT

 

We’d love for you to come and hear first-hand of life living near a uranium mine by visiting collegue, Reinford Mwangonde who has challenged Subiaco-based uranium mining company, Paladin Energy’s operating procedures in Malawi since before the licence was granted in 2007.

Kayelekera uranium mine was the biggest mining project in Malawi’s history, but has long caused controversy in the Karonga region of northern Malawi. Uranium mining was imposed on the people of Karonga in 2009 from Paladin Energy, now in administration, and people would still prefer it had never come to their country.

“The mine is located in the catchment area of a river that flows directly into Lake Malawi,” said Reinford Mwangonde, Executive Director from Citizens for Justice Malawi , “one of the most pristine freshwater bodies remaining in the world and a vital source of food for the Malawian people.”

This evening will provide a unique insight into a story that continues to generate heartache and headlines today and convey a sense of the Karonga people’s experience of imposed uranium mining by an irresponsible Subiaco-based company.

We will hear about the cumulative impacts of the Kayelekera uranium mine, and how Paladin has walked away without a clear contingency plan and Malawi has been left with a hole in the ground and contaminated waterways with no means to fix them.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY @ 6pm
PIERS VERSTEGEN, CCWA DIRECTOR – Update on Supreme Court Action to Stop Yeelirrie Uranium Mine
FACEBOOK EVENT
Bar and Snacks Available.

World Social Forum and Cop23

The world Social Forum will be held this year in Paris, France from the 2nd – 4th of November, followed by the Cop23 in Bonn, Germany from November 7th – 17th.

Marcus has been invited to attend and hold workshops on the nuclear situation in Australia nad primarily on uranium mining in Western Australia and the upcoming supreme court case scheduled for November 16th..

If you are going to be at the World Social Forum or Cop23 please get in touch with Marcus
Click here Email Marcus
There is a great update on this years Walkatjurra Walkabout that was done by Lauren.
Click here to view

 

We are also getting more Hoodies printed at the moment as there has been a lot of requests for them over the last month..
Email us if you would like to reserve one

Make a donation to the Walkatjurra Walkabout
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

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

Seven Weeks to go!!!

Marcus Atkinson1 Comment

‘Walkatjurra Walkabout – Walking for Country’

is a celebration of Wangkatja country, a testament to the strength of the community who have fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years, and a chance to come together to continue share our commitment to a sustainable future without nuclear.  It is a chance to reconnect with the land, and to revive the tradition of walking for country.

Hello walkers and all our wonderful supporters,

The Walkatjurra Walkabout is starting August 16th and this year it’s our 5th Anniversary! We have achieved so much since this chapter in the struggle for a nuclear free future started in 2011 at North Pool outside of Wiluna. We are getting extra excited this year for a number of reasons:

We’ll have a new truck! After our trusty and hardworking truck of walks past has taken a well deserved retirement, we were lucky enough to find a replacement that looks amazing and up to the task of hauling all our food and equipment on desert adventures and Ranger expeditions.

There is an online crowd-raiser happening Donate here which you are encouraged to contribute to and share with friends. We’ve already hit our target for covering some of the truck costs, but still need to buy a super strong trailer for the 800 litre water tank. Every bit helps!

NEW TRUCK WITH SOLAR SET UP!!

There has already been lots of interest in this year’s walkabout from all around the world. There is a possibility of walkers coming from Japan, including Nipponzan Myohoji monks and people from Fukushima. Representatives from Footprints For Peace, US section, are likely to come too. And rumours of old walkers returning from Canberra and the far off East Coast of Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. It’s looking like a deadly crew to celebrate our 5th year out walking on Country together!

We starting from North Pool in Wiluna again this year! This is a reflection of the stronger connections with Indigenous community up there and concerns over possibility of expanded ‘uranium district’ in the area proposed by Toro “we have no idea what we are doing” Energy.

There are even an exciting pre-walkabout art exhibition in Perth to participate in before we get started. “Yellowcake country” exhibiton will be held at the Moore Gallery in Fremantle from 14th-31st of August. So if you are coming over to WA for the walkabout, make sure you arrive in time for the opening on Friday 14th August. We’ll be celebrating our 5 year anniversary and WANFA will hold their live auction on the night. So get your glad-rags ready and come p-ART-y with us!

There’s even going to be a new hot water urn, after the demise of the our last one due to petrol/water confusion on the 2014 walk… And because we are walking in springtime again, the wildflowers will be out! There is so much to be so joyfully thankful for and look forward to this year!

Of course we are most thankful for all our efforts successfully working to keep WA uranium mining free on our 5th anniversary. That’s EIGHT YEARS winning despite a pro-uranium state government. Our success is due to the strength of connections and community we have created together, led by committed and knowledgeable traditional owners who are standing up for their land and culture. Wangka Kutju – Wanti Uranium! Leave it in the Ground!

So, whose keen to join us this year? Remember to read the information for participants before you register. We need to know if you are coming and who you are bringing with you. 🙂 The bus is filling up and a few people have said they will be bringing vehicles, so hope to fit in everyone who wants to come.

See you in Seven weeks!

Hope to see you on the Walk..

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

Walkatjurra Busabout leaving in January

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

For those of you that have heard about the Walkatjurra Walkabout … and thought you didn’t want to walk, but would love to come out to country …

Then here is your opportunity!!

We are organising a bus trip leaving East Perth Train Station on Sunday January 27th 2013 at 9.00am and travelling to Yeelirrie & Lenora area for a cultural awareness tour led by Yeelirrie Traditional Owner, Kado Muir.

The Walkatjurra Busabout is a 6-day road trip open to all people keen to experience talking and living sovereignty, desert camping, communal cooking while travelling to some of the most beautiful and ecologically significant environments in WA. . It will be an amazing journey through Wangkatja country to share culture, to connect to country and to listen to stories. It will be a celebration and testament to the strength of community who has fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years.

SDY_6844

There are a few options to become involved in this exciting project:

1.) jump on the bus to Yeelirrie leaving East Perth Train Station on Sunday January 27 2013, at 9.00am to travel to Kalgoorlie for the night to acknowledge and celebrate Sovereignty Day staying at Wongutha Birni Aboriginal Cultural Centre. The bus will head up to Leonora and meet Kado and other Aboriginal leaders to begin the tour of country. The bus will return to Perth on Friday 1st February 2013

2.) if you can’t make the trip, spread the word &/or send some-one you know that would like to come out country

3.) give a donation that would support Traditional Owners to come on the trip.

This is an incredible opportunity to be together with Traditional Owners, so together we as present custodians can protect land and culture for future generations.

P1000088

The costs are: concession $350 – waged $500 – solidarity $650.

Account Details: Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group

BSB: 633 000     Acc:Number: 137443347

Ref: Busabout (and your name)

Cheque: Fremantle Anti Nuclear Group, PO Box 632 South Fremantle WA 6162

For more information & details email: busaboutcountry@gmail.com

or contact K-A 0401 909 332

2011 Camp Photo’s

Marcus AtkinsonLeave a comment

Check out some of the awesome camps we had during the 2011 “Walk Away from Uranium Mining, Towards Aboriginal Sovereignty” and you will want to join us this year for sure 😉

https://walkingforcountry.com/2011-walk-away-from-uranium-mining-camp-photos/