I am Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna elder and peacemaker from Lake Eyre, South Australia and president of ANFA (Australian nuclear free alliance)
I have said so many times that we need to close BHP down.We need to close down their industries and destruction operations throughout the world as soon as possible. BHP has a lot to answer for – the crimes, the destruction they create. They need to be taken to court, to be charged for the damage they have caused.
As I’m writing I see on the ABC tv that Brazil is suing BHP and Vale for $7.2 billion which is a pittance compared to the damage done. Brazil needs to sue them for so much more. We need to sue them for such an amount to end their industry, to shut them down. They should be forced by law to clean up this disaster which they created.
My people and my country suffer from BHP’s operations at Olympic dam, South Australia. We have had people sick and dying, and family fights since mining began.There have been tailings dam seepages, and millions of litres of our sacred artesian water taken daily to treat uranium. Springs have dried up, and trees have died.The tailings dams are nuclear waste dumps in open sun, blown by winds across the country. We want to close Olympic dam down. Flying over Olympic dam you can see different colours from the waste, and dead birds and animals in the tailings dam. Mine workers have died and their stories covered up.
Our heart goes out to all the families in Brazil. To all the sacred places, the river.
We send our support, we’re fully with you in mind and spirit in the struggle. I will pass your message on to all my families and we will support however we can.
Stay strong, do not back down.
Viva Brazil