2010 National nuclear free strategy and planning meeting

DATE: March 11-12, 2010 (prior to national climate summit)

LOCATION: Canberra. Exact venue TBC.

AGENDA: A draft agenda will be compiled in early 2010 for circulation and comment.

To suggest a topic or workshop you would like to see on the program,

please contact Nat Wasley or Natalie Lowrey (details below).

PLEASE RSVP BY FEBRUARY 11 TO ASSIST WITH PLANNING :

Nat Wasley, natwasley(at)alec.org.au, 0429 900 774

Natalie Lowrey , Natalie.Lowrey(at)conservationwa.asn.au, 0421 226 200

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2009 was another busy year for the nuclear free movement in Australia.

There have been some major challenges to face, with bipartisan federal support for increased uranium exploration and mining across the country and proposed expansion of all exisiting uranium mine projects.

Government and nuclear industry advocates are using popular concern about climate change to promote nuclear as a ‘clean, green’ energy source, exacerbating the pressure on communities faced by uranium proposals.

However, targeted communites, environment and health groups and supporters nationally continue to resist the imposition of nuclear projects.

Uranium exploration proposals have sparked strong opposition from local communities and the planned radioactive waste dump in the NT remains highly contested. An announcement of the government preferred dump site (4 are currently under consideration) is expected in early 2010, which means it is critical campaigners nationally are ready to respond.

Work done by nuclear free campaigners around the recently released Gareth Evans report on nuclear disarmament, “Eliminating Nuclear Threats” has increased public profile for the nuclear weapons abolition campaign.

The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) meeting in 2009 elected a new committee with broad national representation and a host of ANFA working groups continue to build and strengthen the Alliance’s communication and campaigns.

With a federal election looming and the Liberal Party publicly advocating for a domestic nuclear power ‘debate’,  its time to come together to celebrate our positive achievements and plan against the ongoing and increased nuclear industry presence.

The national nuclear free planning meeting will be a facilitated two day meeting in Canberra in the lead up to the national climate summit.

The meeting is open to all people who want to actively campaign in 2010, focussing on strategy and planning rather than information based sessions. Briefing and discussion papers will be circulated prior to the meeting.

There will be an information-based workshop at the National Climate Summit immediately following (March 13-15) covering the current nuclear landscape and why nuclear is a false solution to climate change. Participants in the nuclear free strategy meeting are strongly encouraged to stay and participate in the Climate Summit.

If you are interested in attending, facilitating sessions, helping with catering or fine tuning the agenda in early 2010 please contact natwasley(at)alec.org.au or Natalie.Lowrey(at)conservationwa.asn.au.

Put it in your diary and we hope to see you there!