In working towards a safe and clean way of life for the next and future generations, Friends of the Earth Brisbane is committed to a shift away from all industrial nuclear processes. FoE Australia has consistently and effectively campaigned on nuclear issues in Australia for over 30 years, with particular focus on mining and radioactive waste. FoE Brisbane is building on this experience in the campaign to stop the introduction of nuclear food technologies in Australia.
The FoE Brisbane Anti-Nuclear collective seeks to work with community organisations opposed to the nuclear industry, and to damaging food technologies – specifically food irradiation. Food irradiation raises significant issues about food quality, public health and transportation and storage of radioactive material. We are currently part of a wide campaign to stop the introduction of food irradiation facilities into Queensland, and the sale of irradiated foods in Australia and New Zealand.
There are currently two irradiation facilities planned for Queensland: the nuclear irradiation facility in Deception Bay/Narangba, and the e-beam facility for Mareeba, North Queensland. As part of engaging in the debate surrounding food irradiation, FoE Brisbane actively supports community presence at the Narangba/Deception Bay irradiation plant.
We consider public participation to be an essential part of a process that seeks to alter the food we eat. FoE Brisbane is critical of the failure by government to provide for proper public participation around this issue, and we believe that the administrative and legal measures, which are supposed to protect public health, have so far completely failed to act as a safeguard against the interests of industry.
FoE Brisbane believes that the development of sustainable and equitable methods of food production, distribution and consumption is a far more viable option than processes like food irradiation. Part of our campaigning on this issue draws from the work of the Just Foods Project (on Community Supported Agriculture) and the genetix campaign against genetically modified foods.
For more information:
á What is food irradiation?
á History of food irradiation
á Food irradiation in Australia
á FoEA Submission to ANZFA re Application A413 (PDF)
á FoEA Submission to ANZFA re Application A443 (PDF)
á The Narangba/Deception Bay nuclear plant
á Nuclear Narangba (PDF)
á E-beam
á Anti-Nuclear Collective policy document (PDF)
á What you can do
á Other nuclear links
If you are interested in finding out more about what we do, and/or joining the campaign, please email [email protected], or phone (07) 3846 5793.