Brisbane Anarchist occupy a Nuclear facility
posted by asger on Sunday January 05 2003 @ 10:49PM PST
At 8am (Monday 6/1/03) protestors performing a media stunt (involving a
dragon attacking actors dressed as nuclear technicians and security guards)
outside the fences of the facility were let in by a lone security guard. As
the 'Dragon' crossed the road, the single security guard unlocked the main
gate.
Protestors assumed some agreement had been negotiated, and 20 people
(including the corporate media) entered the grounds of Steritech's nuclear
food irradiation site. Protestors continued their theatre performance, and
then occupied the nuclear material containment pool room. At no time did
the 'official' security make an attempt in either word or deed to stop them.
After half an hour the security guards locked the gates and refused to let
out the remaining 15 people, until police arrived at about 9am. During that
time some protesters got out by creating holes in the fence, or climbing
over the fence. Police eventually allowed protestors the option of leaving,
despite protestations of security guards who "wanted everyone to be arrested".
Six people climbed the walls of the containment area, hoisting flags and
banners, and refused to leave. They made a statement to the effect that
they were "community health and safety inspectors" and found the site to be
"unsafe" and "insecure" and would occupy the site and reopen it as a
Community centre for the Deception Bay youth (many of whom dirt-bike in the
area). They observed that the formwork in the containment area walls was
already cracked to the ground. The containment pool's integrity is
paramount to the prevention of radiation leakages into the environment. The
pool is ten metres deep and may often fall within the water table, as the
construction is sited on the edge of a paperbark wetland which feeds
directly into Moreton Bay.
A stand off with police ensued until the Tactical Response Unit (qld's riot
police) were called in about midday to remove protestors from the premises.
(No further details of this are avaiable yet, check
www.brisbane.indymedia.org.au for updates.)
The successful action of activists calls into serious question the claims
by the Steritech Corporation that the facility will be 'safe' and 'secure'.
For background iformation visit http://www.foodirradiationinfo.org/ or
search www.brisbane.indymedia.org.au
Destroy the Nuclear Industry, before the Nuclear Industry detroys us!
Link: www.brisbane.indymedia.org.au
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/01/05/5742440
