NSW Jabiluka Action Groups meet
By Justin Randell
PEARL BEACH — Activists from Jabiluka Action Groups across NSW met on November 21 to discuss the way forward for the campaign to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine.
Around 20 activists attended, with representatives from JAGs in Newcastle, Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Wollongong. The peak environment bodies were also represented, including by Chris Doran from the Wilderness Society (TWS), John Hallam from Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Alan Champion from the Australian Conservation Foundation.
The meeting began with introductions and a brief statement from each participant about what they wanted the meeting to achieve. Increased communication and coordination of the campaign were recurring themes, as was obtaining feedback on how other groups had responded to the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation's (GAC) "New Directions" document.
Doran reported on the state of the "corporate campaign" to put pressure on mining company Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), and its parent company, North Limited. This campaign includes plans for a national day of action outside Westpac banks on December 15.
Doran was optimistic about the corporate campaign succeeding because, he said, it is becoming clearer that the Jabiluka mine is unprofitable. This opens up the possibility of convincing North Limited to withdraw its financial support for the project, he said.
Hallam then presented an update on the likely result of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee delegation's visit to Australia. Hallam was optimistic that the World Heritage Bureau report would damn the Australian government for what it had done to Kakadu, and that there was a good chance Kakadu would be put on the endangered list. The decision is to be announced in early December.
Group representatives then reported on what activities their groups had been engaged in. An impressive list of activities emerged, including lobbying the World Heritage Bureau (FoE), the corporate campaign (TWS) and rallies, community education and fundraising activities (most JAGs).
Participants then discussed the GAC document. The reports clarified that none of the groups present would be seeking Gundjehmi endorsement on the basis of the document, but that all nevertheless wanted to maintain their activities in the campaign.
All but one or two of those present agreed that, while working in solidarity with the Mirrar people was and should continue to be an integral part of the campaign, the campaign should keep a broad focus and include anyone who wants to stop the Jabiluka mine.
It was noted during the discussion that there had never been any suggestion when the JAG network was first established that it would be under the control of the GAC.
The meeting discussed different groups' action plans, and a brainstorming session was held to generate campaigning ideas for the next three months.
The meeting also generated a contact list of all the groups present, and Dr Jim Green from Sydney JAG organised the JAG representatives' participation in fortnightly national telephone link-ups, the first to be held at 3.30pm (EDT) on November 27. (Phone Jim Green on (02) 9211 0805 with inquiries about the link-ups.)
Another NSW meeting was scheduled for the first weekend in February, in the Blue Mountains. Contact Haydn from Blue Mountains JAG on (02) 4782 5537 for more details.
Green told Green Left Weekly that with the re-election of the Howard government and the release of the GAC's document, the various groups in the campaign must improve their communication and coordination of activities. It is important that the campaign work out a united approach, in NSW and nationally, to stopping the mine, he said.
The NSW meeting was an important step towards that goal.