The nuclear barons want to turn all of north-eastern South Australia into their own private hell on earth. On February 25, a blockade was called on the Beverley site, 600km from Adelaide in the arid Frome Embayment. Beverley proponents Heathgate Resources have all their paperwork in order and are preparing to inject the Beverley aquifer with full scale mining before the end of 2000. This will be the first new uranium mine in Australia in more than 15 years.

The whole area is rich in uranium; it is also under consideration for Australia's national radioactive waste dump, and is a few hundred kilometres from WMC's monster Olympic Dam mine. The people and environment of this area are obviously seen as expendable by the nucleocrats in their air-conditioned offices in the capital cities.

Once again, it's up to the Australian community to stop the madness.

A clearing house has been set up in the township of Copley, about 160km from the Beverley minesite. This is the headquarters of FREAC - the Flinders Ranges Environmental Action Collective. The collective is organising public awareness, media and nonviolent direct action against the mine.

You can email freac: freac@microsuxx.com
or ring them on (08) 8675 2242

In early May 2000, the international Earth Dream environment group reached the Beverley site and staged a series of major stop-work actions in conjunction with the Adnyamathanha people and the Flinders Ranges Environmental Action Collective (FREAC).

The police cracked down hard:

" I was arrested wrongfully and forcefully. I was [pepper] sprayed at close range, directly at my face and locked in a paddy wagon with two other women, (one of which was asthmatic). The officer involved said "I wonder what would happen if some of this accidentally got in here" He then proceeded to fill the confined space with pepper spray, seal us inside and leave us for close to one hour in direct sun, without fresh air, water or assistance. I have never felt such pain or fear for my health before."
Sophia Hanson

31 people were locked in an airtight shipping container after their arrest, and a Channel 7 cameraman was mistakenly beaten up and arrested. The use of tactical response police to smash a peaceful protest is a serious demonstration of how the police are used by the government to protect the interests of overseas investors. Photos available here...

PHOTOS OF POLICE CHEMICAL WARFARE AGAINST PROTESTORS
MAY 2000

CALL TO RELEASE POLICE "SPECIFIC OPERATIONS ORDER" FOR BEVERLEY URANIUM PROTESTS
ACF Press Release May 14, 2000

POLICE VIOLENTLY DEFEND CRIMINAL URANIUM MINE
FREAC Press Release May 9, 2000

BLOCKADE HALTS U.S. OWNED URANIUM MINE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
FOE Press Release May 8, 2000

STOP THE CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION
ACTION AT BEVERLEY URANIUM MINE
Public Statement March 4 2000

In May 2000, nonviolent protests at the Beverley mine were brutally suppressed by the SA police and special 'Star Force' paramilitaries. Click on the image above to see your tax dollars at work protecting the American nuclear industry.