Be Clear, Not Nuclear! Hiroshima Day - Bryon Bay 6/8/11

Several hundred people - along with their babies and dogs - rallied in the heart of Byron at Railway Park to express their opposition to the deadly uranium industry on Sat 6th Aug, Hiroshima Day and to stand in solidarity with the people of Fukushima.

Quoting economist Joseph Steiglitz, MC Harsha Prabhu pointed out the similarities between Wall Street and Fukushima, both symbols of rogue capitalism: delusional speculation, technological hubris, public subsidies and private greed. The fate of the planet hinged on who would win the war: the corporations or the people.

The day's program kicked off with the Cape Byron Steiner Songbirds, featuring Elle Shimada, a Steiner student from Tokyo now studying in Byron and included a global link up and ceremony at noon. Participants linked hands and visualised the healing of the planet while passing a large ball painted up to symbolise the earth.

A memorial shrine to Hiroshima in Railway Park, a screening of the film Twice Bombed, about the story of Yamaguchi Tsutomu, who survived both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a passionate capoeira performance by Byron's Brazilian crew, and a man dressed up as Mr Uranium who harangued the punters, were some of the other activities. The night ended with a cranking set by Nimbin reggae band Imandan, the RadActive firespinners, followed by deep trance from DJ Leif Illuvatar that had young and old on the dance floor.

Close to 300 signatures were gathered on a petition to stop uranium mining in Australia. Organisers have vowed to continue the signature campaign at local markets and gatherings, to create a groundswell of public opinion against this unsafe and unsustainable industry.

Text and photos by Harsha Prabhu