War Games and Nuclear Weapons
Australia is seeing an increased US military presence on our shores. Besides the already existing US base at Pine Gap in the NT, many Australian ports are being used as de-facto bases, or 'lilypads' for US operations in our area.
In Queensland nuclear powered vessels are making regular stops at our ports and in 2005 the Talisman-Sabre Joint US-Australian war games were held at Shoalwater Bay north of Rockhampton in Queensland.
The presence of nuclear vessels, potentially carrying nuclear weapons (the US armed forces have a policy of non-disclosure onthat matter) poses a significant threat to the Australian people, the environment, and foreign relations in the region.
Depleted Uranium. Has it been used in Queensland?
Depleted Uranium (DU) munitions are used regulary by US forces for their penetration power.
DU munitions tend to disintergrate n inpact, causeing a fine dust of radioactive material that contaminates air, land and water. Once inhaled, DU continues irradiating the vicitim for the rest of their, often shortened, lives
The US assured us in 2005 that DU would not be used during war games, however, numerous instances of 'accidental' use in training overseas does not inspire trust. Additionaly, Australia purchased DU munitions in the 1980s which have not all been accounted for.
It is possible that DU has been used at Shoalwater Bay Defence Force Training Area near Rockhampton.
Anti-nuclear activists are pushing to see testing for DU contaminationn of local residents of the Shoalwater Bay area, as well as veterans returned from the Gulf wars.
See also: [Depleted Uranium Silent Killer (DUSK QLD)]
[David Bradbury's film: Blowin' In the Wind]
Increased militarisation and nukes
In 2004 the Howard government signed a 20-year agreement which allows the US to use our land for air-to-sea, air-to land, and sea-to-land practice bombing. They will test new weaponry and to use our military bases, airfields and naval ports, increasing the amount of nuclear traffic in our region.
Talisman-Sabre 2005
The Anti-bases Coalition of Australia newsletter reported the 2005 Peace Convergence at the Shoalwater Bay TS05 games. [pdf]
See also [Peace convergence 07]
30 years of Resistance, A History of FoE Australia documents the grass roots work of our organisation. RRP $20. Ph: 07 3846 5793 to order a copy. All proceeds go to FoEBs environmental and social justice campaigns.