It's a while since I wrote here and I thought perhaps it was enough but it seems not. If you are not a member of the Uniting Church I give you full permission to skip this one. Or even if you are...
On Friday night I attended, as an observer, a special meeting of the Presbytery Synod of the Uniting Church in South Australia to consider some issues around the storage of nuclear waste. The focus was on solidarity with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.
There were 8 speakers and a chance to discuss and ask questions.
Many of the speakers spoke with passion and emotion.
Some things were clear:
Nuclear medicine does a great job of diagnosis and treatment
There is already clear wasue and we need to deal with it
We acknowledge the dreadful treatment of Indigenous people in the past
But it is a complex issue.
It is clear that the Adnyamathanha people do not wish to have the nuclear repository on their land at Barndioota in the Flinders Ranges. But is there any land that is not considered as belonging to some traditional owners?
There was no mention of the studies done regarding seismology or impact on water systems; it was just assumed there would be problems. Nor was there mention of other voices in the community (as in a letter from the Hawker Uniting Church in the latest edition of New Times. (You can track it down on line if you are keen.)
We read many pages of information supplied as background reading but felt some was ignored and dismissed out of hand. Three was also some clouding of the issues by not sticking to the topic and talking about high level waste which want on the agenda for the evening.
It was surprising that a quorum of members was not achieved. Maybe Friday night at 6.30 was not a good time or maybe some were reluctant to be involved where emotions run high.
I was glad to have the opportunity to hear more and to listen to what was said. I was grateful for the wise and sensitive leadership of Moderator Deidre Palmer and proud to be part of a church which doesn't avoid the issues but seeks a way forward in relationship.
PS The first draft of this got lost somehow. I'm sure it was brilliant. I offer this rewrite as a poor substitute.
Difficult and complex. Thanks for your thoughts on this, Glenys.
ReplyDeleteHi Glenys, I have heard about the meeting tonight... Couldn't get there as had to be in Adelaide tonight (Sunday) and for next 2 days. I Did speak on the topic at the last Presbytery/Synod meeting though. Some people seem determined to muddy the waters by talking about high level waste and every perceived transport problem etc. There is so much low level waste currently stored in completely unprotected rooms in hospitals, Unis etc in every city. It needs to be stored somewhere secure but mention radiation and so many people seem to lose all reason and comprehension BUT still want radiation treatment available if they get cancer!!
ReplyDeleteI wondered if I'd see you there. As it was I flitted around in the time available to catch up with lots of people. We had to be in town for Sunday so decided to go even though it meant missing out on a celebratory dinner. There was definitely frustration about bringing in the issues like high level waste and transport.From conversations afterwards I got the feeling that some were afraid to speak up for fear of being seen not to be in solidarity with Congress members.Much work still to be done.
Deletewell said Glenys. There is also little mention of the fact that it has to go somewhere! I think it best to deal with it safely and if we can help as well as earn some work related income, so much the better. I thought I was a lone voice so delighted to hear your views.
ReplyDeleteI am just beginning to get my head around all this but felt that not all voices were heard nor all the evidence that had been presented in the pre-reading.
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