The mirarr, traditional landowners of the northeast of kakadu national park, believe that they bear the responsibility of what happens on their land and thus they bear the emotional responsibility if the uranium is used, say, in making nuclear weapons. Uranium mining the gundjeihmi aboriginal corporation. Agreements between the mining industry and indigenous people are not. The impact of mining in kakadu national park essay 622 words. Peter garret has said he will closely study a proposal to expand the ranger uranium mine in. It provides a brief history of the park including the conflicts between uranium mining and conservation, environmental and economic needs as well as various interest groups including local and the indigenous communities living around the park. The artefact collection at kakadu national park headquarters was examined in july 1990, during a field visit to kakadu by rs needham undertaken as part of bmrs environmental geoscience program. Download fulltext pdf the history of uranium mining and the navajo people article pdf available in american journal of public health 929. Home uranium mining in kakadu national park libguides. Uranium mining in kakadu key events and development.
Big bill neidjie contemplates the impact of uranium mining on. Kakadu national park, located in the northern territory of australia, possesses within its boundaries a number of large uranium deposits. The ultimate plan for ranger was that the site would be rehabilitated and incorporated in kakadu, though that now seems. Nov 16, 2015 the kakadu charter was refined and signed at a time of great stress for the mirarr people, against a backdrop of concerted company and government pressure for uranium mining at jabiluka. After an extended struggle and nation wide campaign in support of the traditional owners that involved a coalition of diverse indigenous, environmental and social activists and groups, and included blockades against the mining operations, public actions against the.
A textbook of mining geology for the use of mining students and miners by park, james. The navajo people and uranium mining contributes to the growing scholarship on the atomic west and should be read by those interested in modern native american history and health, atomic and mining history, and oral history. Issues at operating uranium mines and mills ranger, australia. The long and controversial history of uranium mining in australia. Protection of the environment near the ranger uranium mine. Of the three mines considered by this study, the ranger mine in kakadu. The kakadu charter which helped stop a uranium mine marks. Nov 28, 2014 the ranger uranium mine in kakadu national park, with its tailing dams almost full after the wet season. The company lacks the commitment, capacity and competence to conduct such a dangerous trade in such a special place and the recent fire is further proof that it is time to close the chapter on uranium mining in kakadu. Big bill neidjie contemplates the impact of uranium mining on djabulugka billabong, jabiluka, kakadu national park, 1995 picture sarah george picture bib id. The expansion of the ranger uranium mine at kakadu youtube. Dramatic landscape kakadu has a very unique and dramatic landscape with stunning flood plains, gorges, billabongs, woodlands, rock plateaux, rock escarpments and plummeting waterfalls.
These general terms incorporate a large variety of design possibilitiesthere are as many methods of mining uranium as there are orebody sizes, shapes, and mineral constituents. Nonradiological contaminants from uranium mining and milling. Home uranium mining in kakadu national park libguides at. Although exploration for uranium began in the top end as early as 1944, the first uranium was found in kakadu at coronation hill in 1953 by a geologist from the commonwealth bureau of mineral research. Three uranium deposits ranger, jabiluka and koongarra were never included in the. Kakadu national park, located in the northern territory of australia, possesses within its. Australia has a long history of substandard mine closure and rehabilitation in the. Such wastes also contain nonradiological contaminants heavy metals, acids and neutralising agents which give rise to potential longterm health and environmental hazards and shortterm hazards to the aquatic ecosystem, e. Pdf the history of uranium mining and the navajo people. This is a fascinating book about the history of uranium. Jul 01, 2007 the navajo people and uranium mining contributes to the growing scholarship on the atomic west and should be read by those interested in modern native american history and health, atomic and mining history, and oral history. The examination was undertaken as part of the objective to provide geological information to park staff to assist in. A textbook of mining geology for the use of mining. The uranium is legally owned by the australian government, and is sold internationally, having a large effect on the australian economy.
Whiting out aboriginality in making news and making history. Australia has a sorry history of poor or failed mine rehabilitation and ranger cannot be allowed to join this list. The australian conservation foundation has welcomed the acknowledgement by embattled uranium miner energy resources of australia that there is no future for uranium mining in kakadu. Rehabilitating the ranger uranium mine the university of sydney. Uranium mining has long caused controversy in the kakadu region. The valley was declared a national park in 1982 and now it is a world heritage site. Its status is due not only to its scenic beauty and tourist potential, but also because it contains important biological ecosystems and aspects of aboriginal culture. They are being dragged into meetings two and three times a week, and so they are under enormous pressure on these mining questions. Kakadu owners want to stop uranium mining newscomau.
A shy, 36 yearold aboriginal woman, margarula was born in the bush of the south alligator area. Jul 23, 2017 jabiru is a small town on a countdown. It shows how the australian federal government overrode the human rights of kakadu. The mine should not be expanded and this video outlines the main arguments against its expansion. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you. Deep inside kakadu national park, the tiny network of bushlined streets and a tired shopping precinct was originally built in 1982 to service the community. A textbook of mining geology for the use of mining students. Glenn campbell it creates a fitting mood for a place facing an uncertain future. The smaller no 2 orebody is close to mount brockman, an aboriginal sacred site, and will not be mined. Publication date 1906 topics mines and mineral resources. To convey a sense of the mirarrs experience of imposed uranium mining, gundjeihmi in partnership with our colleagues at the environment centre nt created dirt cheap 30 years on. It shows how the australian federal government overrode the human rights of kakadu s traditional owners in order to impose a toxic industry in a world. Ranger mine ranger uranium mine, kakadu, west arnhem region. A 2006 paper by the australian institute of aboriginal and torres strait islander studies showed that cancer cases doubled among aborigines near australias biggest uranium mine, the ranger mine in kakadu national park.
Tourmaline from jabiluka uranium deposit, kakadu, west. Nov, 2010 the impact of mining in kakadu national park this report will explain the impact of mining in kakadu national park and what effect it has on such topics as marine life, flora and fauna, tourism, climate and the history of kakadu national park. During the past twenty years, the mines health impact on the local indigenous community has not been investigated despite over 120 leaks of contaminated water. Kakadu owners want to stop uranium mining kakadu traditional owners say the nuclear crisis in japan has only strengthened their resolve to oppose uranium mining. Built right in the center of the mirrar homeland, the ranger uranium mine is one of the largest uranium mines in the world. Brown falcons or whistling kites are a constant presence above this part of kakadu national park. Energy resources of australia today informed the asx that the mirarr traditional owners have refused to extend eras authority to operate the ranger uranium mine. Mining of orebody no 1 was completed in 1994 while mining of orebody no 3 commenced in may 1997. Green left is a vital socialchange project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. Mining and commercial production of uranium concentrate have been underway since 1981. Senior traditional owner yvonne margarula says that with mining. The long and controversial history of uranium mining in. End of era for uranium mining in kakadu australian.
Kakadu has been burnt but it is era who should be in the firing line. Peter ker au november 29, 2014 the ranger uranium mine in kakadu national park, with its tailing dams almost full after the wet season. Uranium mining and the threat to kakadu green left. First cab off the rank was the ranger mine which was imposed on local communities despite the clear opposition of the of mirarr traditional owners the nearby jabiluka deposit, also on mirarr land, was next in line. Uranium mining, waste and indigenous australia overland. It is essential that the new postmining chapter at ranger reflects a new way of working, said acf campaigner dave sweeney. Many environmentalists have said that the new jabiluka mine will be a hole in a donut, and it certainly seems the case. It shows how the australian federal government overrode the human rights of kakadus traditional owners in order to impose a toxic industry in a world. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet.
Dramatic landscape kakadu has a very unique and dramatic landscape with stunning flood plains, gorges, billabongs, woodlands, rock plateaux, rock escarpments and. The book presents the results from the uranium mining and hydrogeology conference umh vi held in september 2011, in fr. Read the new uranium mining boom challenge and lessons learned by available from rakuten kobo. Nonradiological contaminants from uranium mining and. Is the australian government justified to mine for uranium here. Primarily, it is about the mining of uranium, and secondarily about its use in bombs and in nuclear power plants, and the security or lack of it surrounding the mineral. However, upsc optionals subjects will require reading of few reference books to gain insights on topics that are not provided in the school textbooks. Big bill neidjie contemplates the impact of uranium mining. Dirt cheap 30 years on includes rare footage of mirarr senior traditional owner toby gangale stating clear opposition to mining on his country and documents his prescient concerns about uranium. Uranium mining is a continuing issue for indigenous communities. The jabiluka site is surrounded by the beautiful world heritage kakadu wetlands. Mitigation of uranium mining impacts on society and. Valley of flowers national park is an indian national park, located in west himalaya, in the state of uttarakhand and is known for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and the variety of flora.
The promises never last but the problems always do. This video which goes for about 6 minutes and published in 20 gives a great overview of kakadu national park. The kakadu charter which helped stop a uranium mine marks 15. The examination was undertaken as part of the objective to provide geological information to. Kakadu is also special because it contains within its perimeter significant mining activity and. It is surrounded by, but separate from kakadu national park, 230 km east of. Fifteen years ago the mirarr were also at the forefront of protest action escalating across australia and around the world in opposition to the plans by energy. Ranger mine ranger uranium mine, kakadu, west arnhem region, northern territory, australia.
Uranium mining in kakadu at a crucial point conspiracyoz. This paper is an examination of the impact of uranium mining on aboriginal communities in the northern territory. Such wastes also contain nonradiological contaminants heavy metals, acids and neutral ising agents which give rise to potential longterm health and environmental hazards and shortterm hazards to the aquatic ecosystem, e. The closure plan has been assessed by rio tinto but is still undergoing a feasibility assessment. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The spectacular and diverse geology of kakadu is recognised in the world heritage listing of the park. Search the history of over 431 billion web pages on the internet. Please refer to the pdf format of this volume for an undistorted view of the foldouts. Protection from the hazards from radioactivity is of prime importance in the management of uranium mine and mill wastes. The orebody was discovered in late 1969, and the mine commenced operation in 1980, reaching full production of uranium oxide in 1981. Tourism, the creation of national parks and mining interests were all enclosed under the. Orion magazine uranium mining, native resistance, and. The future of uranium mining in the kakadu national park.
In the 1970s, kakadus alligator river system became the focal point of europes uranium demands. Oct 14, 2011 the mine should not be expanded and this video outlines the main arguments against its expansion. Nov 21, 20 a second safety breach in less than a month from the ranger uranium mine in the northern territory has angered traditional owners of kakadu national park. A recent and brief colonial history has given rise to a nation state that. Pdf this paper begins with a brief historical overview of the australian movement against uranium mining, before focussing on two major campaigns find. A second safety breach in less than a month from the ranger uranium mine in the northern territory has angered traditional owners of kakadu national park. Apr 07, 2011 kakadu owners want to stop uranium mining kakadu traditional owners say the nuclear crisis in japan has only strengthened their resolve to oppose uranium mining at jabiluka. History of uranium mining in kakadu ground view of the ranger processing facilities. Kakadu is the longtime home to the aboriginal mirrar people, as well as a recent intruder.
Nabarlek mine, west arnhem region, northern territory, australia. In the late 1970s, the federal government was keen to open up uranium mining in the kakadu region. A textbook of mining geology for the use of mining students and miners. A geological study of stone artefacts in the collection of. Upsc geology books download ias geology optional booklist.
The kakadu charter was refined and signed at a time of great stress for the mirarr people, against a backdrop of concerted company and government pressure for uranium mining at jabiluka. A uranium mine owned by energy resources of australia. Aborigines win veto on kakadu uranium mining published by mac on 20050225. For the geologist, the present is the key to the past. It is surrounded by, but separate from kakadu national park, 230 km east of darwin. Pdf the australian movement against uranium mining. The traditional owners in the kakadu area have been harassed by miming companies for 15 years, and people are being asked to process so many exploration licence applications. Located in the kakadu national park about 230 kilometres east of darwin. The best source to cover the upsc ias syllabus is ncerts textbooks.
Kakadus geological attractions clues to the geological history of kakadu are found throughout the park escarpment 140 million years ago kakadu was under a shallow sea. Based on the current understanding of uranium deposits in the commonwealth of virginia, extraction of uranium ore would use openpit mining, or underground mining, or a combination of both. Polluted water leaking into kakadu from uranium mine. The traditional mirarr owners said the government had indicated they would be given ownership of jabiru, a mining town in kakadu, if they reversed their opposition to mining jabiluka. Ips melbourne at first glance, yvonne margarula appears an unlikely candidate to be leading a battle against one of australias largest mining companies. Orion magazine uranium mining, native resistance, and the.
The ranger uranium mine in kakadu national park, with its tailing dams almost full after the wet season. Kakadu national park is one of the newest and biggest of australias national parks. Impact of uranium mining on aboriginal communities in the northern territory irene wilson. Ranger mine ranger uranium mine, kakadu, west arnhem.
1133 1165 332 65 776 232 1504 1084 364 20 1614 806 521 1577 1399 27 1468 1115 1427 715 1596 221 874 307 839 1478 538 670 1238 528 1142 1220 369