Radioactive Show

This show from the archives 'Uranium Mill Protest on Native American Land' features recordings from the Ute Mountain Ute Native American protest against the White Mesa Uranium Mill on their land from April 2017. Presenter KA Garlick interviews White Mesa Community Leaders Priscellna Rabbit and Ephraim Dutchie, an attorney Marie Ann Tapp and Dinah women Leona Morgan.  White Mesa Uranium Mill is the US only operating uranium mill and is causing serious environmental contamination and impacting the health of the community. The company operating the mill Energy Fuels is collaborating with Astron Corporation to extract rare earth and mineral sands from the Wimmera region, 300 kilometres from Melbourne in Victoria. The ore will undergo some processing on site before being shipped to the United States where uranium will also be extracted from the ore, making the Donald mine a source of a commercial quantity of uranium for the first time in Victoria's history, despite a state ban on uranium mining.

Today we take a look at some of the research and actions around military spending on this continent as we mark the beginning of the month long Global Days of Action on Military Spending initiated by the International Peace Bureau.  First up we'll hear from Jaimie Jeffries, Co-convenor of the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network Geelong and Vic South West and member of Defend Peace Djilang. Then from Mercedes Zanker and Jacob Grech lead researchers with Renegade Activists who educate on Australia’s role in the arms industry and presenters of A Friday Rave radio show on 3CR.Links:Paper Boats for Gaza  10am - 12pm, Sunday 12 AprilGeelong Islamic Community Centre Mosque24-26 Almanac St, Bell Park War or Public Housing – resist the push to defund essential services 6pm to 8.30pm, Thursday 16 April Blue Room - City of Melbourne's Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

The Donald Rare Earths and Mineral Sands Project is in the Wimmera region of Victoria, about 300 km north-west of Melbourne.  The Donald Project plans to develop a massive mineral deposit discovered in the 1970s. The Victorian Government approved the Donald Project work plan for construction and operation of the mine in June 2025. In October 2025, the Australian Government awarded the mine "Major Project" status. This was the day after the announcement of the US-AU Critical Minerals framework negotiated by Trump and Albanese to see billions of dollars in financing for projects necessary for producing weapons, electronics and renewables.  This comes at the same time that Environment Minister Murray Watt tabled reforms to the EPBC Act that could see exemptions to push through projects considered to be in the national interest.  The Donald project is a joint venture between Energy Fuels Inc. in the US and Astron Corporation in Australia.  Astron will produce a Rare Earth Element Concentrate (REEC) on-site and send 100% of this concentrate via the Port of Geelong to Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill in Utah, USA, for final, specialised processing and refinement into separated oxides.  Whilst Astron are saying they are not mining uranium and it's incidental thus avoiding Victoria's long-standing ban on uranium mining - uranium will be extracted during processing once it reaches the US.White Mesa Mill is the focus of a community campaign regarding environmental justice and contamination impacts to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Alongside environmental organisations such as the White Mesa Concerned Community Group, they are demanding closure of White Mesa Mill - the only operating conventional uranium mill in the United States, because of the toxic materials that contaminate air, land and water sources, threating aquifers and the San Juan and Colorado Rivers. To discuss the implications we are joined by Dr. Jim Green - Friends of the Earth Australia's National Anti-nuclear campaigner and Yolanda Badback a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.  Trump/Albo Rare Earth Deal - Albo must announce polluting projects won't be fast trackedIn late October Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese signed the US-AU Critical Minerals Framework: a deal where mining companies can apply for billions of US dollars to finance projects to produce minerals used to make weapons, electronics and renewable energy.You can sign the Friends of the Earth petition calling for Anthony Albanese to clarify how major projects will be impacted by the US-AU Critical Minerals deal and demanding a guarantee that they will all be subject to regular environmental and social assessment processes.

This conversation with Dr Scheherazade Bloul traces the pathways into AUKUS Pillar II, examining how universities are increasingly entangled in military research and defence infrastructure. We explore the implications of this alignment and what it means for knowledge production, power, and the futures being shaped across our region. Part one of a two part series.

On the 11th of March fifteen years ago, a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the east coast of Japan triggering a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima power plant.  Vast amounts of radioactive contamination were suddenly released into the environment and around 150,000 people were forced to flee their homes.  Fifteen years later, the impacts of that dreadful day are still very real with clean up ongoing, the location of fuel rods still unknown due to the intense radiation, 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated water is still on site and radioactive wastewater contaminated with radionuclides, including cesium, strontium, and plutonium is now being pumped into the Pacific Ocean.Today we are dipping into our archives to bring you one of the first Radioactive Shows broadcast after this nightmare event began.  This show was produce and presented by Jesse Boylan on the 26th of March 2011 just two weeks after the meltdown and features interviews with Phillip White, Dr. Tilman Ruff & Dave Sweeney.Upcoming events to join:The Pacific Peace Network is holding an emergency webinar on the War on Iran and the Impacts for our Blue Pacific.11am Brisbane time and midday in MelbourneHear from speakers across the pacific about the potential impacts of the US-Israel war on Iran , Lebanon and Gaza and ways to act for peace. Join here.For our listeners in Melbourne you can attend a workshop 'Help sink AUKUS before it sinks us!from 1-3pm today at the Maritime Union of Australia 46 Ireland st, West Melbourneorganised by No AUKUS Coalition Vic, the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network and Spirit of Eureka. Info here.And on Sunday 15th March come to the State Library of Victoria.At 12pm Free Palestine Coalition Naarm are holding a commemoration of 7 years since the Christchurch massacre at that saw 51 Muslims killed by an Australian Islamophobic, anti-immigration fascist.Followed at 1pm by a MASS ANTI-WAR PROTEST AGAINST THE US-ISRAELI IMPERIALIST WAR ON IRAN.Join millions around the world calling for an immediate end to the US-Israeli war on the Middle East/West Asia region. Stand with Palestine and the people of Lebanon and Iran. Stand for the freedom of land and people from the boots of Zionist colonialism, US imperialism and capitalist dictatorship.

On March 1st, about 20 people came together for an anti-nuclear workshop held in Lutruwita at an activist camp organised by Grass Roots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT). Nuclear Free Collective coordinators Reed and Manju teamed up with our friends at Beyond Uranium Canberra, to discuss AUKUS in the context of the anti-nuclear movement in so-called Australia. We also “soft launched” an anti-AUKUS peace walk that will happen later this year in South Australia, most likely throughout September.  Keep an eye on our Instagram @foenuclearfree for updates on the peace walk and other nuclear free action you can get involved with.  You can also support the work of the Nuclear Free Collective by making a donation or becoming a member at https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/donate. References from the show/workshop:“Prime Minister announces $3.9 billion 'down payment' towards $30b Adelaide submarine shipyard”  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-15/down-payment-for-30b-adelaide-submarine-shipyard/106346484 An overview of British nuclear weapons testing in Australia https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/sources-radiation/more-radiation-sources/british-nuclear-weapons-testing  A zine about AUKUS was handed out at the workshop, and you can access it too: https://renegadeactivists.org/resources-and-legislation/ (“Leaving AUKUS? An anti-militarist review of AUKUS: it was never really about submarines” Produced by Renegade Activists, July 2025)

Sharing audio from an online forum organised by no nuclear subs SA, ‘Stop the AUKUS nuclear submarines’, held on February 11. Firstly we’ll hear from Dr Margie Beavis, from the Medical Association for Prevention of War, and ICAN - the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Margie will provide some of the broader context of defence policy and AUKUS nuclear submarines. Later in the show we’ll hear from Professor Al Rainnie from Adelaide University, on the opportunity costs of AUKUS, as in what we’re missing out on when 368 billion is funnelled into AUKUS.Adjunct Prof. Al Rainnie (Adelaide University) on AUKUS costs, opportunity costs and jobs claims.Medical Association for Prevention of WarInternational Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

From the 21-23rd of February World Beyond War have called the Global Days of Action to #CloseBases. For all the details of Close Bases actions globally go to worldbeyondwar.org/closebases.As actions to close military bases across the continent and around the globe are underway, we bring you a show about the campaign to close the 'Nurrungar Joint Defence Facility' in the late 8o's and early 90's. This program was broadcast on the 15th of January 1994 and takes a Look back at the Nurrungar Peace Camp 1993; and follows the story of some of the organisers and arrestees.The 'Joint Defence Facility Nurrungar' was closed in 1999 after serving as a joint Australian-United States Earth station from 1969 to 1999. It was primarily used for space-based surveillance and missile warning systems. Today, the site is used occasionally for army test and evaluation work, but it is not actively used for military operations.  This land still hasn't been handed back to the Googatha people.

Today we speak with Dr.Tilman Ruff about the end of the New START Treaty, that removes a significant nuclear restraint between Russia and the United States, which together possess 87% of the world’s nuclear weapons. Under New START,  the United States and Russia were limited to deploy each a maximum of 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 700 nuclear weapon delivery systems.  They also complied with verification, notification, and on-site inspection mechanisms that reduced uncertainty and helped prevent miscalculation.  We discuss what the end of New START means for the world, the immediate impacts on this continent and the vital role of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at this time.To support the work of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons pushing for Australia to sign on the the TPNW visit the campaign page.

This week's show is about running for country, community and life. We celebrate the efforts of the mutual aid fun run and share reflections on the legacy, learnings and ongoing relevance of The Sacred Runs. A series of ceremonial and political runs led by Dennis Banks in solidarity with many others - including long-time anti-nuclear organiser, Marcus Atkinson. Part One of a three part interview series. To donate to the fun run please go to funrun4mutualaid.grassrootz.com/fun-run-4-mutual-aid