Radioactive Show Emma Crunch, AC Hunter & Michaela Stubbs

Today's we bring you nuclear news with Friends of the Earth Australia's National Nuclear-free campaigner Dr. Jim Green. We discuss Dutton's push for nuclear power in Australia; the UK nuclear power construction at Hinkley Point; the growing threat of nuclear war and the latest nuclear waste threat under AUKUS - the Australia, UK and US military pact.The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill 2023 establishes a new regulatory framework to promote and regulate the nuclear safety of activities relating to AUKUS submarines. The framework would apply to Australian submarines and to activities related to UK/US submarines.  We’ve learnt that it could make Australia a dumping ground of high-level military nuclear waste from the United Kingdom and United States – if laws proposed by Defence Minister Richard Marles are rushed through Parliament in the coming weeks. An Inquiry into the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Bill reported on Monday 13th May and Recommendation 3 is as follows:'The Committee recommends that the Government consider amending the Bill so that a distinction is made between Australia’s acceptance of low-level nuclear waste from AUKUS partners, but non-acceptance of high-level nuclear waste.' Take action now and contact your local parliamentarian to call on them to close this dangerous loophole in the legislationThe nuclear free collective have a proforma letter that you can send to your local representative: www.melbournefoe.org.au/no_aukus_intl_wasteFriends of the Earth Melbourne has a petition to sign opposing Peter Duttons plan to build large scale nuclear power plants in Victoria:  www.melbournefoe.org.au/nonuclearvic_petitionThe Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency are considering application No A0346 by the Australian Submarine Agency to prepare a site for a prescribed radiation facility (namely a low level waste management and maintenance facility) to be known as the 'Controlled Industrial Facility' at the existing HMAS Stirling site, at Garden Island, Rockingham in Western Australia.To have your say go to https://consult.arpansa.gov.au.  Submissions close at 11:59pm on 7 June.If you want all these actions and updates sent straight to your email sign up the Friends of the Earth Melbourne Nuclear Free news.We featured the song 'Enough is Enough' recorded by Jampijinpa Ned Hargraves at Resident Frequency studios in Collingwood.  THe song will have it's live premiere at an event on Friday 24th of May at Catalyst Social Centre to raise much needed funds to support the Walker family during the coronial inquest into Kumanjayi Walkers death.Karrinjarla Muwajarri Fundraiser4pm at Catalyst , 144 Sydney Rd, Brunswick.An evening of music and conversations about keeping community safe from racist police.Come share a meal and get cozy around the fire. There will be t-shirts, hoodies and art for sale, dinner by donation and a raffle with GREAT prizes!!!

This week we hear about two campaigns at the forefront of opposition to the military expansion on this continent.  ‘Native Title Rockets’ Campaign Coordinator and documentary Director Rocky speaks with Priya Kunjan (Thursday Breakfast) about Southern Launch’s Koonibba rocket testing range that has begun commercial operation with its first rocket launch this week on Kokatha lands near Ceduna, South Australia.  Kokatha elder Aunty Sue Haseldine brings us a call out for supporters to protect country from damage by the rocket testing operations.  Then we hear an interview from Phuong Tran (Tuesday Breakfast) with Larrakia, Kungarakan, Gurindji and French political creative Laniyuk about the sacred lands of the Larrakia people, which are currently under threat of being destroyed by Defence Housing Australia. Binybara 'Lee Point' near Darwin is an area of deep cultural significance to the Larrakia Peoples and is also an internationally-significant site for migratory shorebirds and home to the rare and endangered Gouldian Finch. Larrakia people are being supported by community groups to have Lee Point protected and returned to traditional custodianship, after the Federal government gave Defence Housing Australia permission to develop the site 800 homes in 2018.  Last week Environmental Justice Australia made an application to the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) to recognise sacred sites in the Lee Point development zone, including the Danggalaba Dreaming track, a sacred waterway and traditional camping places and ceremonial grounds on behalf of Larrakia Danggalaba Traditional Owner Tibby Quall.Support the campaign by signing the petition to Return Lee Point to the Care of Larrakia People.   

This week's show shares recordings from the Nuclear Truth Project panel hosted at the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance Meeting, 2024. It includes stories of First Nation survival and solidarity from this continent and abroad. Voices include Dimity Hawkins (ICAN Australia), Petuuche Gilbert (Elder of Acoma Puebla), Yalata community in conversation including Roslyn Peters and senior Kothaka elder Aunty Sue Haseldine (West Mallee Protection). 

Part two of the Community Speak out for Peace held at the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance meeting 2024.Strong words from Mitch, Eastern Arrernte and Luritja woman, and a 20 year nuclear free activist who fought a nuclear waste dump proposal for her Country by starting a direct action beside the road. Followed by MUA vice-president Garry Keane, speaking about safety for wharfies and unionists. Finally, we’ll hear from Dave Sweeney of the Australian Conservation Foundation. Nat Wasley, long term Nuclear Free organiser and Maritime Union Australia worker and member, facilitates the forum.

An in studio conversation with Ray Acheson, a writer and activist, visiting from their current home of New York. Ray is the director of Reaching Critical Will, a member of the ICAN, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons steering committee, which is the disarmament program of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. We discuss the strength of First Nations' organising on all things nuclear in 'Australia', the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, AUKUS, police repressiong, organisin against 'cop cities' in the US, and the hope of mutual aid and solidarity. They are the author of ‘Banning the Bomb, Smashing the Patriarchy’ published in 2021 and ‘Abolishing State Violence: a world beyond bombs, borders and cages’. Ray has returned to so called ‘Australia’ to attend the 2024 Australian Nuclear Free Alliance conference, as well as reconnect with struggles and community here.ANFAReaching Critical WillICAN AustraliaAbolishing State Violence by Ray Acheson Banning the Bomb, Smashing the Patriarchy by Ray AchesonArticle about Australia-Israel FOI request mentioned in interview

In today’s show we share with you audio recorded at the Community Speak out at the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance meeting, March 15-17th.ANFA is a grassroots alliance that has brought together Aboriginal people and civil society groups concerned about existing or proposed nuclear developments in ‘so called’ Australia since 1997. The was the first East Coast meeting of ANFA and was called to come to the East Coast due to the nearby proposed stationing of nuclear submarines at Port Kembla, a key part of the AUKUS deal, just 15km from the coastal city of Wollongong. At the Sunday Community speak out delegates from across many different Aboriginal Countries, who had travelled thousands of kms to be at ANFA, shared stories and heard from local unionists and organisers. From the desert to the sea, links were made between nuclear projects, their impacts and struggles against them. Speakers are, Natalise Wasley (MC) of the Maritime Union of Australia, ANFA president and chairperson- Sue Coleman Haseldine and Trish Frail, Henry Rajendra- President of the Teachers Federation NSW, and Arthur Rorris, Secretary of South Coast Labour Council.Australian Nuclear Free AllianceWollongong Against War and Nukes