Rio Tinto, the world’s largest mining corporation, will not consider uranium mining at Jabiluka in Australia’s Northern Territory until they have the full consent of the Mirrar, the mine’s traditional land owners.
For the last 20 years, uranium mining has been in operation on Mirrar lands. The 25 members of the clan have stood strong in their opposition to mining all along.
In a recent statement, Yvonne Margarula, senior traditional owner of the Mirrar, strongly opposed any mining on their sacred sites. “We will continue to resist more mining on Mirrar country,” said Margarula, “We have no choice-this is our land and our life, we can never leave, we must protect it.”
The Mirrar are concerned that Rio Tinto authorities have not fully disclosed their development plans, or come clean on issues such as radioactive leakage downstream from the mine. Mirrar supporters and environmental organizations have repeatedly approached the company officials concerning this leakage. The Mirrar demand full communication and have previously requested the shut down of all mining activities on their ancestral territory.
The Mirrar, together with Australia’s Conservation Foundation, have called for the mining company to rehabilitate the Jabiluka site, reincorporating it back into the Kakadu National Park. At this years’ annual general meeting, Rio Tinto executives were challenged to end uranium mining in Kakadu National Park altogether.
