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Anti
Nuclear Campaigner?
Who Me? ...
NEVER!
Jim
Green
Interviewed by Nicky Phillips
When I began my Bachelor of Science degree almost 15 years
ago, I never imagined that I would end up being one of the
anti nuclear activators for the non-profit organisation ‘Friends
of the Earth.’ It hardly seems like a job a typical science
graduate would be in the market for.
Friends of the Earth is an organisation “working towards an
environmentally sustainable and socially equitable future.”
My efforts for FoE are mainly concerned with the nuclear industry.
We are currently lobbing against uranium mining, the proposed
nuclear disposal sites in the NT and nuclear weapons among
other things.
Is campaigning as fun as people imagine?
While many people have the misconception that activists are
constantly tying themselves to trees, jumping on board commercial
fishing vessels and marching on the steps of Parliament House,
in reality it is hardly that glamorous. Today, I spent much
of my day in meetings.
Even hippies have to attend meetings!
My day in science started with a meeting involving fellow
Friends of the Earth colleagues, we discussed mainly the politics
involved with uranium mining, in Australia there are three
mines all of which we are campaigning to close.
Another meeting was with trade unions. We are currently trying
to get them to endorse opposing uranium mining.
A more comical part of my day in science was when I wrote
a critique on nuclear energy titled, “How to make Nuclear
Power Safe in Six Easy Steps.” The paper was basically making
a mockery of the way the government tries to promote nuclear
energy as safe.
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