Alex Milne, Melbourne
The 2004 Students of Sustainability conference was held at La Trobe University on July 11-14. Around 500 environmentalists and other activists, from interstate and overseas, attended. As always, there was an impressive diversity of workshop topics.
A "Green-Black alliance" quickly became the theme of the conference, with the most popular workshops focusing on the need for Aborigines and environmental activists to work in solidarity to save the planet. Aunty Veronica Brodie of the Ngarrinjeri/Kaurna people, a prominent opponent of the Hindmarsh Island bridge in South Australia, spoke about the need to spiritually "connect" with the land. Nina Brown, a campaigner against the radioactive waste dump in South Australia, spoke alongside the Indigenous women of the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta council.
Aunty Sue Haseldine and Aunty Sheena Coleman from the Googatha people north-west of Ceduna spoke about their struggle to protect their ancestral lands from mining exploration. Hilel Freedman from Nuclear Free Australia provided a comprehensive update on what is happening with the Australian uranium industry.
Gavan McFadzean, a prominent forest activist, was one of several speakers to denounce Australia's appalling forest management practices.
From Green Left Weekly, July 21, 2004.
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