Title reads 'Lessons in Success from Nuclear Campaigns'. Two photos one with a headshot of "Kirsten Blair" and the other with a crossed out nuclear symbol with the name "Sanne De Swart".

Lessons in Success from Nuclear Campaigns

By ,

Introduction

Part history lesson, part preparation for today’s fight. There is a powerful history of anti nuclear movements across this continent.

This quote was from a panel discussion at a conference called FWD+Organise 2024 in Naarm | Melbourne. The session was presented by:

  • Kirsten Blair, Australian Nuclear Free Alliance
  • Sanne Deswart, Friends of the Earth

Participants heard from these two frontline anti-nuclear campaigners who shared lessons from their community building, creative tactics, organising and mobilising work from decades past. They explored what those experiences can teach us for the fight ahead. This article based on their session focuses on the campaign that stopped the Jabiluka Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory, Australia, and shares resources for future anti-nuclear campaigns.

Campaign Case Study: Stopping Jabiluka Uranium Mine

The Mirarr Traditional Owners led an extraordinary mass movement to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine – and won!

Hundreds of thousands of Australians participated in protest marches. Around 5,000 people travelled to protest at the mine site. Dozens of Jabiluka Action Groups sprung up around the country. 

In the late 1970s, mining companies developed the Ranger uranium mine in Kakadu National Park, NT, despite the opposition of Mirarr Traditional Owners. The mine operated from 1980 until January 2021 and rehabilitation work is underway. 

Mining companies also wanted to develop the nearby Jabiluka deposit. The Mirarr maintain they were tricked, cajoled and pressured into a 1982 Jabiluka ‘agreement’. But the mine remained undeveloped from 1983-96 because of the federal Labor government’s no-new- uranium-mines policy. 

Under the Howard Coalition government, elected in 1996, mining company ERA tried once again to develop Jabiluka. The government approved the mining proposal and work began. 

However, the Mirarr led an extraordinary mass movement to stop the mine – and won! 

Tactics Used During the Campaign

  • Speaking tour, town hall meetings, grassroot information sharing 
  • Hundreds of thousands of Australians participated in protest marches. 
  • Around 5,000 people travelled to protest at the mine site. 
  • Over 500 people – including Yvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional Owner of the Mirarr Clan – were arrested during protests at the mine site. 
  • Dozens of Jabiluka Action Groups sprung up around the country following an on- country camp involving students from the 1997 Students and Sustainability conference 
  • A Newspoll found that two-thirds of Australians opposed the Jabiluka mine
  • Innovative corporate campaigning involving shareholders including an extraordinary general meeting of North limited
  • Engagement with the World Heritage Committee including a visit from a high level UNESCO scientific mission
  • Resolutions in European parliament and US Congress 
  • Extensive public profile work, documentaries and other films, lots and lots of letters to the editor, calls to talk back radio etc 

Campaign Win

In 2003, rehabilitation of the Jabiluka mine site was complete, including re-burial of over 50,000 tonnes of unprocessed uranium ore.

In subsequent years, an agreement was signed by ERA and Mirarr Traditional Owners giving Traditional Owners a right of veto over any future development of the site. 

Yvonne Margarula said in an October 2003 statement: 

In 1997 I said – it’s my country and I’m going to win.

I don’t think I was wrong. Tonight I’d like to thank all you people in the Australian community and from overseas who helped the Mirarr to stop the Jabiluka mine. It was very important to Aboriginal people and to Balanda that we put up a fight and speak for country.

The mining company will soon be finished putting all the rock they took from Djabulukgu back down where it belongs and I hope to sign an agreement soon which will give us Mirarr the right to stop more mining.

Again, thank you for your great support through all the tough times.

Anti-Nuclear Resources

Explore a collection of anti-nuclear resources including videos.

Videos

Australian Conservation Foundation ACF, Heart of Country: A Film about First Nations People Protecting Country 19:41 mins (13.58 – 16.46 mins – Barngarla piece)

Join Josie Alec, proud Kuruma Marthudunera woman and ACF’s First Nation’s Lead, on a journey across Australia to explore First Nations connection to Country, and the fossil fuel and nuclear projects that threaten that connection and damage nature and climate.

A Win for Kakadu, 3:48 mins

In 2013 — after decades of fighting — Djok Elder Jeffrey Lee successfully ended the threat of uranium mining on his country. His land at Koongarra has been included in the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park in Australia’s Northern Territory – and permanently protected from mining. The protection of Koongarra is a powerful recognition of Jeffrey’s vision and a lasting victory for both Aboriginal and environmental rights. Jeffrey’s country is now safe but Kakadu is not. Mirarr country to the north of Koongarra is still threatened by uranium mining. The victory at Koongarra is extraordinary but as Jeffrey has made clear, more needs to be done: “I hope that one day Kakadu will be truly complete with the Mirarr lands at Ranger and Jabiluka included in the National Park.”

Fight for Country (about Jabiluka fight), 49:41 mins

In 1998, over 5,000 people travelled to Kakadu, in the Northern Territory, to stand alongside the traditional owners of the land, the Mirrar people, and lend their support to the Jabiluka Campaign. The fight to prevent the development of the Jabiluka uranium mine was one of the biggest protest movements in Australia’s history.

Cover for documentary. Title reads 'Dirt Cheap'. Title is tamped across a map of Australia.

Dirt Cheap 30 years on: The Story of Uranium Mining in Kakadu, 49:21 mins

Uranium mining was imposed on the Traditional Owners of Kakadu in the late 1970s and the controversial Ranger mine commenced production in 1981.

Three decades later the mine is majority owned by Rio Tinto and Kakadu uranium is still shipped out of Darwin to fuel nuclear reactors in Japan, Europe and elsewhere.

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. 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 Heritage Area.

The film provides a unique insight into a story that continues to generate heartache and headlines today.

Muckaty Voices: Australia’s Nuclear Waste Dump Story, 9:59 mins

“Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community resistance to an Australian government plan to dump radioactive waste at Muckaty Station, 120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.

ANFA Video Nuclear Power

Australian Nuclear Free Alliance members talking about why nuclear power will never be right for Australia.

Why Nuclear Power is Not the Answer, 2:52 mins

This short video looks at the issues of nuclear power covering, cost, scale, waste, weapons and safety. It outlines why nuclear power is not a solution to the climate crisis we face. With the uncertain climate future we face nuclear becomes even more dangerous and unreliable.

Don’t Nuke the Climate Youtube channel

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