The Australian http://www.news.com.au/national/ Top award for Jabiluka fight By MEGAN SAUNDERS 20apr99 TWO Aboriginal women heading the campaign to stop the Jabiluka uranium mine will receive one of the world's most prestigious environmental prizes this morning. Yvonne Margarula, a senior member of the Mirrar people, the traditional owners of the area, and Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation executive officer Jacqui Katona said the $160,000 Goldman Environmental Prize had increased their resolve to fight against the contentious mine. Speaking from San Francisco, Ms Katona said the pair would meet US first lady Hillary Clinton later this week in a bid to increase international pressure on the Australian Government. They also hoped to meet the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. Mrs Clinton and Mr Annan would be asked to press a UNESCO environmental committee to fast-track its decision to place the area in Kakadu National Park on the world heritage "In Danger" list. Last week, the Australian Government replied to the UNESCO world heritage committee, arguing that the Jabiluka mine was not a threat and should go ahead. "It's an absolute vindication of the struggle of the Mirrar people," Ms Katona said. "It's a very humbling experience." The prize is funded by the Goldman family, owners of the Levi Strauss clothing company. Ms Katona and Ms Margarula won the prize for the category of island nations, one of six geographical categories. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission also moved to step up pressure on the Government over its handling of indigenous issues, asking the UN to reprimand Australia for ignoring international conventions. ATSIC commissioner Terry O'Shane told the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva yesterday that the Coalition had come into government in 1996 with an "agenda to wind back indigenous rights". ************************************************************************* This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
