EnvironmeNT : the newsletter of the Environment Centre NT
Environment Centre NT
EnvironmeNT; E-Journals; PublicationNT; EnvironmeNT : the newsletter of the Environment Centre NT
2002-05-01
Darwin
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.; Made available via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).
English
Environment Centre N.T; Ecology; Periodicals
Environment Centre NT
Darwin
EnvironmeNT : the newsletter of the Environment Centre NT
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Environment Centre NT
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/223827
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/685226
May 20022 Page 5 Ongoing problems at Rios Kakadu uranium mines: As well as owning Jabiluka, Rio Tinto is also the majority owner of the nearby Ranger Uranium mine in Kakadu. Since opening in 1982 over 110 environmental incidents have been documented at Ranger and recent continuing problems demonstrate serious deficiencies in environmental performance and management at Ranger mine. A tailings water return pipe leak went unreported for over 3 months in 2000. In early 2002 elevated levels of uranium in creeks flowing off site at Ranger and Jabiluka and into Kakadu National Park again went unreported for up to 6 weeks. Having owned these operations for over 18 months Rio Tinto can no longer claim to be incidentally involved in uranium mining in Kakadu. Rio Tinto is responsible for the recent environmental failures at Ranger and Jabiluka and Rio Tinto must now act. Rio Tinto - Time to choose: Rio Tinto mines like Freeport, Panguna, Rossing and Rum Jungle have a history of dispossession and disempowerment of indigenous peoples and left behind major adverse environmental and social impacts. Recently Rio Tinto has invested much effort into remaking its image and trying to improve its community perception via projects like the Global Mining Initiative. Whether these initiatives lead to better relationships with traditional owners and better environmental performance remains to be seen. Jabiluka is now a key test of whether Rio Tintos stated commitment to corporate social responsibility has any credibility. In 2002 Rio Tinto must listen to the areas traditional owners, rehabilitate the Jabiluka site and act to end any development at Jabiluka once and for all. Jabiluka minesite July 2001 Photo: G. Mudd Help Stop Jabiluka Support the campaign to stop Jabiluka by: Calling on the NT Government to give no more approvals for Jabiluka and to actively support rehabilitation on site: Write to Chief Minister Clare Martin c/Parliament House, Darwin, NT 0800. Calling on Rio Tinto to rehabilitate the Jabiluka site and forego development of the mine in consultation with traditional owners. Write to Mr Brian Horwood, Managing Director of Rio Tinto Australia, 55 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic, 3001. Visit www.mirrar.net , www.ecnt.org , www.acfonline.org.au or www.sea-us.org.au for more information and ideas. Contact Friends of the Earth (03 9419 8700), the Australian Conservation Foundation (03 9416 1166) or the Magella wetlands downstream of Jabiluka mine Rio Tinto Cameco, Cogema and others Energy Resources of Australia Ranger Uranium Jabiluka Uranium Mine 68.4% majority shareholding 31.6% shareholding Photo: S.Scheltema