In addition to nuclear weapons concerns, the persistent problems associated with uranium mining, nuclear exports, nuclear power and long-lived nuclear waste are all of upmost importance to the work of MAPW.
- The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), of which MAPW is the Australian affiliate, has called for a complete ban on nuclear mining. more…
- MAPW has had a clear policy opposing uranium mining and nuclear power since 1987. Australia has around 40% of the world’s known uranium resources. more …
- There are currently three operating uranium mines in Australia: Ranger (Northern Territory), Olympic Dam and Beverley (both in South Australia). A fourth mine, Honeymoon, has received approval to start construction in South Australia also. more …
- Australia exports uranium to the USA, France and the UK, all nuclear-armed nations. In 2006 the Federal Government approved exports to China, another nuclear weapon state. more …
- Australian uranium may have helped fuel the recent disaster in Japan. While Australian mining companies claim commercial confidentiality when asked if the Tokyo Electric Power Company is one of their clients, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has confirmed that Australia is amongst the countries from which TEPCO sources its uranium. more…
- Nuclear energy is neither efficient nor effective in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. more …
- Australia’s uranium exports have resulted in the production of over 80 tonnes of ‘reactor grade’ plutonium — enough to build 8,000 nuclear weapons. more …
- There is no safe and permanent disposal system for the world’s nuclear waste. This problem generated now by the nuclear weapons and power industries is a poisonous legacy to be passed onto future generations. more …
While the government attempts to safeguard our uranium from nuclear weapons, there are serious flaws and shortcomings with the international nuclear safeguards system which purports to prevent the diversion of nuclear material from peaceful purposes to military use. MAPW remains concerned about exports of uranium to all nations. In the 2006 report Illusion of Protection, MAPW recommended “Australia should stop its contribution to the global nuclear chain by phasing out mining and export of uranium.”
MAPW urges our government to consider redirecting the massive resources associated with these industries towards research, development and implementation of safe and renewable sources of energy in combination with improved efficiency of energy use.
Key reading
- MAPW 2-page basic fact sheet on radiation and its health risks, 2010
- MAPW briefing paper on nuclear power and public health: 20-page paper by Dr Peter Karamoskos, 2010
- An Illusion of Protection: 46-page report by MAPW and ACF, 2006