Speakout Success

NUKES NOT WELCOME HERE!
NO to a Nuclear Institute at Sydney Uni!
NO to APEC and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership!
Nuclear is NO solution to climate change!!!

These were the rallying cries that drew students to the speakout held outside Fisher library on Thursday the 6th of September. At 12 noon a passionate, loud and colourful group gathered to raise our voices against the Nuclear Institute. There were student speakers from Enviro Collective and the Anti War Action Group, and Michael Thomson, President of the Sydney University Branch of the National Tertiary Education Union. Students and educators alike are united against the nuclearisation of our university.

They were joined by concerned citizens from the wider community - Aunty Isabelle from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, speaking about the devastating impact of the nuclear cycle on Indigenous communities, and Matt Howard from Iraq Veterans Against the War, speaking about the dangers of depleted uranium munitions. The Nuclear Institute would be a crucial step in the establishment of a nuclear industry in Australia, the impact of which extends way beyond our campus.

The speakout was one step in raising awareness of the issues that relate to the Nuclear Institute amongst the student body. We will continue to raise awareness about, and coordinate opposition against, the Nuclear Institute.

Media Release - Thursday September 6, 2007

Don't Nuke Sydney University for GNEP: Opposing Howard's Nuclear Agenda at APEC

Today Sydney University students, staff and community members will show their opposition to the proposed Institute of Nuclear Science, marked for a major role in the US-Australia Nuclear deal announced last night.

Holly Creenaune of Friends of the Earth Sydney says "the US-Australia nuclear deal seeks to turn Australian universities into research and training grounds for a dangerous and unsustainable industry.

"Australia's status in GNEP as a major nuclear fuel supplier will lead to significant pressure to store international waste in the proposed Northern Territory nuclear waste dump. Despite the Prime Minister's claim, the Federal Council of the Liberal Party passed a motion in June explicitly supporting an international waste dump in Australia."

Olivia Nigro of the Australian Student Environment Network says "Sydney University students do not want to see their university be part of Howard's aggressive nuclear push. The Institute for Nuclear Science will be first since the closure of Australia's sole remaining School of Nuclear Engineering in the 1980s. Twenty years on, there is still no support for Howard's nuclear agenda at Sydney University or across the Australian community."

Wenny Theresia of the Sydney Nuclear Free Coalition says "Nuclear power is no solution to climate change – it is too expensive, too dangerous and cannot provide the deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions we need now."

Friends of the Earth Sydney, Sydney Nuclear Free Coalition and the Australian Student Environment Network are planning strong contingents demanding real action on climate change and a nuclear-free future at this Saturday's APEC rally.

For comment, please contact:

Holly Creenaune 0417 682 541 - Friends of the Earth Sydney

Liv Nigro - 0401 955 405 - Australian Student Environment Network
Wenny Theresia - 0402 564 862 - Sydney Nuclear Free Coalition