Editorials
From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007
By Leigh Robshaw
Hi again, friends. I don't know about you, but I'm feeling a sense of
dŽjˆ vu, with uranium on the agenda in such a big way. It
has taken me back to the 1980s, when nuclear-holocaust films like Mad
Max and The Day After left us scared stiff of nuclear
power.Any leader suggesting Australia go nuclear back then, would have
been committing political suicide.
Today, our leaders seem to have convinced themselves - but not Australia's
environment groups nor the majority of Australians - that nuclear energy
is actually great for the environment, and that we need it to combat
climate change. Neither is true, and since the mainstream media has
given that side of the debate a good run, we're looking at the other,
less convenient side of the story.
An enduring thorn in the industry's side has been the waste dilemma.
That may change now that the Ngapa traditional owners in the Northern
Territory, have nominated their land at Muckaty Station, north of Tennant
Creek, to become Australia's first nuclear waste dump, in exchange for
a one-off government payout of $12 million. Wouldn't it be smarter to
divert the money wasted on war games at Shoalwater Bay, towards providing
the services our indigenous communities are in such obvious, desperate
need of?
Jill Jordan's Farewell
A huge farewell party has been planned for Maleny's co-op queen, Jill
Jordan, on Saturday 30 June, 7 pm at Maleny RSL. The cost is $10, which
includes finger foods (drinks at the bar). Tickets are available at
the Co-op. Look out for our tribute to Jill in the next Maple Street
Co-op News.
[From "Maple Street Co-op News", June/July 2007;
published by The Maple Street Co-operative Society Ltd, 37 Maple Street,
Maleny, Qld 4552, Australia, tel (07) 5494 2088, email maplest.co-op@serv.net.au,
website http://www.maplestreetco-op.com.au]