SAW’s anti-nuke night attracts huge crowds
Last month, as fires broke out again at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and Japanese authorities confirmed that a triple meltdown had occured only hours after the 11 March earthquake and tsunami, over 70 people packed into the Communications Building to hear physicist and renowned anti-nuclear activist Dr Helen Caldicott speak about the dangers of nuclear power.
Going into detail about exactly what had happened in Japan, the nuclear fuel cycle, the medical effects of nuclear radiation, the nuclear arms race, and the total impossibility of ever disposing of nuclear waste safely, Dr Caldicott held the crowd’s attention for the full one-hour duration of her speech with an incredibly engaging manner. Her talk was also preceded by a presentation by Risa Tokunaga, a recently-evacuated Japanese anarchist and anti-nuclear activist who spoke about the huge and rapidly-growing anti-nuclear movement in Japan.
SAW also received positive coverage in the media, with interviews with our members being played on WIN News, ABC Illawarra and i98FM.
Given that we in Students Against War are fighting against Wollongong Uni’s participation in an $85 million military research program that is helping to design components for weapons that will almost certainly be firing radioactive depleted uranium ammunition, the night was especially relevant. SAW will be back to continue campaigning against the Defence Materials Technology Centre next semester so stay tuned for more great events and actions!
