Source: Xinhua [13:23 July 21 2010]
Protesters on Wednesday rallied against uranium mining ahead of a conference with major mining companies in Western Australia.
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt and representatives of the Conservation Council, West Australia (WA) Nuclear Free Alliance, Fremantle Anti-Nuclear Group and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) were among those gathered for the rally outside the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle of West Australia.
Mia Pepper from the Conservation Council said the protesters wanted to put pressure on the government to ban uranium mining in the state.
Senator Ludlam said uranium mining was far more dangerous than other forms of mining, such as nickel.
"This is an industry that is unsafe, unwanted and uneconomical, " Ludlam told Australian Associated Press (AAP).
AMWU state secretary Steve McCartney said uranium mining regulation was divided among five government departments and three portfolios.
"There are not many statistics because no one is keeping records," McCartney said.
Dr Pettitt, a sustainability expert, said the rally was aimed at raising awareness about the potential hazards of uranium mining.
"We want to make it clear that the majority of WA people don't want uranium mining," Pettitt said.
"It looks like the state government wants to go down the uranium mining path, and for the first time in decades we may actually see uranium mining happen," Pettitt said, adding "
Fremantle has been a nuclear-free city since 2000, and we are against any form of transportation of uranium through Fremantle."
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