日本の原発事故を受け、豪アボリジニがウラン採掘を認めない方針

シドニー発・キャシー・マークス

2011年4月14日

3月に起きた地震と津波のあと、東京電力の原発が放射線を施設外に漏らし始めてから、多くの人が事態を狼狽しつつ見守っている。オーストラリアのノーザンテリトリーに暮らすアボリジニであるミラーの人々もそうである。ミラーの人々は、自分たちの土地でのウラン採掘から得られる膨大な収入を放棄して、ウラン採掘を制限する決意でいる。

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同地域の長老イヴォンヌ・マルガルラは、国連事務総長潘基文に手紙を書き、日本の苦しみにミラーの人々は深い同情を寄せていると述べるとともに、原子力非常事態への憂慮を表明した。

「日本の原子力企業とオーストラリアのウラン採掘業との間にある長い歴史を考えると、東京電力の原発が引き起こした放射線問題の少なくとも一部は、私たちの伝統的な土地から採掘されたウランによる可能性が高いと考えられます」。彼女はこう語る。「それを思うととても悲しくなります」。

マルガルラはまた、潘事務総長に、日本の事故を受けてミラーの人々は、知られている中では世界最大の未開発ウラン鉱山ジャビルカの開発に反対する決意を表明している。ミラーの人々は、ジャビルカがカカドゥ国立公園に組み込まれることを望んでいる。カカドゥ国立公園は世界遺産にも登録されており、レンジャー［第一のウラン鉱山］もその中にある。

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伝統的に土地を所有しているアボリジニの人々は、レンジャー鉱山から2億豪ドル以上の採掘権料を得ているが、マルガルラは2005年の議会聴聞会で、鉱山の採掘は「私たちの生活を完全にひっくり返し、アルコールへの依存をもたらし、主に金をめぐってアボリジニの中で大きな論争を起こすようになりました」と話す。

彼女は続けて次のようにも語った。「ウラン採掘により土地は私たちから遠くなり、破壊されました。ビラボンとクリークは永遠に失われました。今は、汚染された岩が積み上げられ、毒を含んだ泥土に大きな穴があいている状態になってしまいました」。

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訳注：

ビラボン：オーストラリアの小沼［雨が降ったときなどに現れるものも多い］

クリーク：小川


Aborigines to block uranium mining after Japan disaster
By Kathy Marks in Sydney

Thursday, 14 April 2011
Australia's Ranger mine supplies Tepco, owners of Fukushima


Since Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant began leaking radiation after last month's earthquake and tsunami, those watching with consternation have included the Mirarr Aboriginal people of Australia's Northern Territory, who are determined to limit uranium mining on their land despite the promise of vast riches.

The Mirarr are the traditional owners of land where uranium has been mined for more than 30 years and exported all over the world. Tepco, which operates the Fukushima plant, is a long-standing customer of Ranger, the principal mine.

The senior traditional elder in the area, Yvonne Margarula, has written to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, expressing her people's sorrow about Japan's suffering, and their concern about the nuclear emergency.

"Given the long history between Japanese nuclear companies and Australian uranium miners, it is likely that the radiation problems at Fukushima are, at least in part, being fuelled by uranium derived from our traditional lands," she said. "This makes us feel very sad."

Ms Margarula also told Mr Ban that events in Japan had strengthened the Mirarr's resolve to oppose work at a second mine, named Jabiluka – the world's largest known undeveloped uranium deposit. Instead, they want to see Jabiluka incorporated into Kakadu, the World Heritage-listed national park where Ranger is also located.

Uranium mining has a troubled history in the area. The Ranger deposit – now operated by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), a subsidiary of the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto – was developed against the Mirarr's wishes. Jabiluka, also leased by ERA, has been in limbo since 1998, when thousands of people staged an eight-month blockade there at the Mirarr's urging.

Although the traditional owners have received royalties of more than A$200m (£129m) from Ranger, Ms Margarula told a parliamentary inquiry in 2005 that mining had "completely upturned our lives, bringing greater access to alcohol and many arguments between Aboriginal people, mainly about money".

She added: "Uranium mining has also taken our country away from us and destroyed it – billabongs and creeks gone for ever. There are hills of poisonous rock and great holes in the ground with poisonous mud."

Situated within the boundaries of Kakadu, the Ranger and Jabiluka leases were excluded when the national park was World Heritage-listed. Although the 70 landowners would reap billions in royalties if Jabiluka went into operation, placing them among the ranks of Australia's richest people, they want the site protected for ever. They have held a veto over its development since 2005.

Ms Margarula told The Age newspaper that the Mirarr's ancient "Dreaming" stories warned that a lethal power named Djang would be unleashed if their lands were disturbed. Her late father, Toby Gangale, had warned the Australian government in the late 1970s, when mining began at Ranger, that Djang "might kill all over the world", she said, adding: "No one listened to him."

Australia has the world's largest reserves of uranium, with great quantities identified at a mine called Olympic Dam, in South Australia.

The Mirarr's willingness to forgo untold riches may seem hard to believe, but it has a precedent. Last year, Jeffrey Lee, the traditional owner of a uranium deposit at Koongarra in Kakadu, gave the land to the national park.




Aborigines to block uranium mining after Japan disaster

http://trans-aid.jp/viewer/?id=16792&lang=ja






http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/aborigines-to-block-uranium-mining-after-japan-disaster-2267467.html

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