Shoalwater bay





News Archive

Responses to Talisman Sabre 07 Public Environment Report

Public Environment Report Submission (PDF)

Public Environment Report - SWAG Response (RTF)

DoD verbal responses to submission re Talisman Sabre 07 Joint Exercises with US Military PDF

Flooding in Capricorn Coast water supply increases military toxic contamination risk. 27th June

The small community of the Capricorn Coast on the Central Coast of Queensland ,Australia is currently feeling the effects of Talisman saber 07, the largest joint training exercise conducted between US forces and the ADF now taking place in the Shaolwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA). With nearly 30,000 foreign troops, an aircraft carrier fleet and nuclear armed and powered vessels off shore and dozens of aircraft arriving from all over the world, residents are alarmed at the lack of information available.

Local community research body Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group (SWAG) is particularly concerned about pollution from undisclosed military toxins as has occurred in most US bases and training facilities world wide and in mainland USA. The local water catchment is inside the SWBTA and live firing is currently occurring. High intensity and high impact bombing is about to commence at Mt. Hummock, just 10 km from the catchment, with airborne drift of toxic residues certain.

"June has been exceptionally wet, with the biggest flooding I've seen in my 30 years here, and run off from the entire catchment, including the military's largest facility at Samuel Hill (located under 1 km from tributaries) is currently pouring into the Waterpark Creek reservoir " said Steve Bishopric, SWAG spokesman and researcher.

SWAG has been asking for testing and the release of known data for two and a half years and has received no information or facts. Local Authority Livingstone Shire Council has now promised to test the water supply but the undisclosed nature of existing and new weaponry being used at SWBTA means there is uncertainty as to what to test for. SWAG has been asked to, and has provided, some preliminary toxins data and advice about other communities world wide that have suffered severe health problems from military training.

"Federal funding is needed to provide independent, expert air and water monitoring and to research health problems being suffered by other communities. Without disclosure and substantial funding, as is provided for military access roads, the community has real reasons for concern about their environment and health and safety".

White whale "MIGALOO" faces possible death with war games sonar. 26th June

Filmmaker and whale/peace activist, Dean Jefferys, who just returned to Byron Bay after a week of peace protests at Shoal water bay says, "THE WHITE WHALE "MIGALOO" FACES POSSIBLE DEATH BY SONAR at the Talisman Sabre war games now occurring in central Queensland".

TV news tonight (26-7-07) shows the white whale Migaloo passing the Heron Islands today just south of where 30,000 soldiers are training at Shoal water bay and may swim into this area tomorrow or the next day. The US military have said they plan to use Low frequency active sonar from their nuclear submarines. Earlier this month at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Alaska, delegates released a report condemning the use of military sonar in the Great Barrier Reef marine park because of its dangerous effects on whales and dolphins as part of the Talisman Sabre 07 U.S.

Dean Jefferys said "Low frequency active sonar, the type used by U.S. submarines, is a known cause of whale and dolphin beachings. Scientists are so sure that active sonar kills cetaceans that they have banned the use of sonar in the oceans off Hawaii. Even the U.S. navy admit that sonar causes beachings and whale deaths. I would hate to see migaloo the icon of the humpback migration wash ashore dead at shoal-water bay. This sonar IS dangerous and potentially lethal to whales and all cetaceans. I am asking the US military as a matter of extreme urgency to stop all use of active sonar in this sensitive marine ecosystem."

Environmental spokesperson for the Peace Convergence, Kim Stewart, says, Sonar causes the animals to panic, surface too quickly and get “the bends”, brain hemorrhages and cause them to become disoriented and hence beach themselves. Sonar is also known to affect other species such a s turtles and fish, reducing the fertility of their eggs and resonating in fish swim bladders causing internal injuries.”

“The military are telling us that sonar does not travel far from it’s source, so they can monitor the presence of cetaceans. However, active sonar can travel hundreds of kilometres, making monitoring unlikely.”

“The military are giving the public assurances that their activities in the Great Barrier Reef will not harm the environment. But the fact is, they cannot avoid it. The everyday munitions and maintainence chemicals
contain contaminants including heavy metals and perchlorate and are known to harm the environment. The military’s Public Environment Report has basically ignored the concerns of environmentalists on this issue,” says Ms Stewart.

Media contact/interviews:
Dean Jefferys 02 66840002 Byron Bay or
Kim Stewart 0413 397 839 Brisbane or
Steve Bishopric 07 49351161 Shoalwater Bay

Two former Midnight Oil band members will perform at a protest concert against a joint US-Australian military exercise in central Queensland and the war in Iraq

Rock band Ghostwriters, featuring former Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and guitarist Martin Rotsey, is headlining Saturday night's Brisbane "Peace Gig" concert opposing the Talisman Sabre military exercises and the Iraq war.

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Sydney-based Hirst said he was more than happy to use his high profile to oppose what he considered is the "totally unnecessary" Talisman Sabre exercise centred on Shoalwater Bay in central Queensland.

About 7,500 Australian personnel, 20 ships and 25 aircraft will take part this year, with US forces likely to include 10 ships, 100 aircraft and 20,000 personnel.

The preparation and deployment stage of the operation started this week before the exercise itself begins on June 19 and runs until July 2.

"We are horrified that we should be donating this beautiful part of the country to these totally unnecessary war games," he told AAP.

"The ecological damage to the wildlife and the fact that, although they may say so, the army has never properly cleaned up when they have held these exercises in the past.

"It also sends the completely wrong message to our northern neighbours and further embroils us into an alliance with the United States which led to the disaster in Vietnam and more recently Iraq."

The concert, staged at the Souths Leagues Club in inner-city West End from 7pm (AEST), is the first concert of the Ghostwriters' national tour promoting the band's new album Political Animal.

Hirst said he believed Australia "hadn't heard a peep" about the Talisman Sabre exercises from the federal opposition because Labor didn't want to hurt its chances of winning the next election.

"I think they are terrified before the election of creating a situation that (former Labor leader Mark) Latham did last time," he said.

He also said he thought former Oils frontman turned politician Peter Garrett hadn't toned down his anti-nuclear and anti-war stance since becoming a Labor MP.

Hirst said he was also taking part in a street march through West End from 10.30am (AEST) on Saturday protesting the Talisman Sabre operation.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/070614/2/13qx1.html

Three war ships are currently docked at Brisbane Port for Talisman Sabre. June 7th

This week the first contingent of US warships here for the Talisman Sabre 07 war games has hit Brisbane.

The USS Essex, USS Juneau and USS Tortuga are diesel powered war machines. It is highly likely they are carrying depleted uranium munitions as Essex and Tortuga are equipped with the Phalanyx missle system that uses DU shells. They have all participated in service in Iraq. All three are part of a "forward deployment" team of warships based in Saseba, Japan. They carry some aircraft and helicopter gunships.

more info on the ships:
Essex <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Essex_%28LHD-2%29>
Juneau <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Juneau_%28LPD-10%29>
Tortuga <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Tortuga_%28LSD_46%29>

Call Treena on 043 2563 967 or Robin on 04 1111 8737

Australian military to buy cluster bombs: is depleted uranium next?

MEDIA RELEASE from Peace Convergence
June 4, 2007

This week the Australian Defence Force (ADF) announced their intention to add cluster bombs to their arsenal. Cluster bombs have received international condemnation for their tendency to kill many non-target victims, especially children. They have been recommended for banning in the U.N and are the subject of a 68 country treaty. Yet the ADF choose to fly in the face of ethical conventions in warfare with this purchase. The Peace Convergence condemns the Australian government who made this decision, and asks “Will depleted uranium and other unethical weapons be next?”

Cluster bombs release many smaller bomblets that pepper a wide area and do not necessarily detonate on impact, but are designed to kill people who come in contact with them some time later, just like land mines, already banned in the U.N and by many countries.

Kim Stewart, speaking for the Peace Convergence says, “98% of the victims of cluster bombs are civilians. They are still blowing the limbs off children in Vietnam today. The U.S. dropped almost 30,000 kilos of cluster bombs in Iraq, which will go on killing innocents for decades.

”The U.S military, with whom the ADF are making increasing links, has no compunction about using munitions that cause unnecessary non-target deaths like depleted uranium, cluster bombs and white phosphorus. In our eagerness to follow the U.S military lead will we soon also see depleted uranium in Australia’s arsenal?”

“The Australian government is already trying to undermine the call for an international treaty to ban cluster bombs, by trying to secure different rules for themselves.”

Dr Zohl de Ishtar, from the Australian Centre and Conflict Studies, says, “This development signals to us that the Australian government and the ADF are willing to side with the international rogue state, the United States, no matter how unethical their practices may be.”

"Will we see cluster bombs used on Australian territory during war games like Talisman Sabre 07? Is this the kind of unethical ally Australians are comfortable with?"

Peace Convergence media contacts:
Kim Stewart, Friends of Earth Brisbane 0413 397 859
Dr Zohl de Ishtar, Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies 0429 422 645

Nuclear Free Livingstone Shire motion - STALLED IN COUNCIL

Councilor Brett Svendsen's motion was tabled at the LSC meeting on Wed 23rd May but the motion was held over until a later date.

Shire Chairman Bill Ludwig spoke for the motion and saw no legal impediment to it being adopted.
He spoke of significant correspondence of support received on the nuclear free motion.

Before the motion was discussed Councilor Mike Pryor moved another motion to hold the matter over to a later meeting to allow councilors more time to consider it. (Councilor Pryor also spoke earlier in the meeting advising councilors to avoid passing any motions that could be seen as Council supporting criticism of the Defence department and thereby risk losing Defence road funding to the council. ) Council quickly adopted the motion to hold the matter over.

It is likely the motion may have been side lined until just after the Peace Convergence and tabled at the next LSC meeting 27th June. Alternatively this matter could be finalized soon, before the next general council meeting in a committee meeting. It is important to continue to lobby councilors and to provide your reasons for seeking their support to pass the motion when it next arises. Also please write to, send letters to the Editors and ring local media.

Please contact councilors immediately.
Rockhampton and Yeppoon media outlets contact list
Details of original motion

US, Australia, Japan: joint missile defence plan

AUSTRALIA will conduct research into a joint missile defence system with the US and Japan to boost security in the Asia-Pacific region, a Japanese Government source said yesterday.

Tokyo and Washington had already been working on a defence shield to ward off potential threats from North Korea, but the Japanese official said the new plan also envisaged a possible firing of Chinese missiles over Australia and Guam.

A basic agreement to jointly study the missile defence system had been reached in April when government officials from Japan, the US and Australia met in Tokyo.

A spokesman for the Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, declined to comment on the report. But Australia appears set to join Japan and the US in researching the missile defence system which could eventually be deployed on three new air warfare destroyers.

Japan is acquiring both a land-based Patriot PAC-3 and sea-based Standard SM-3 missile defence capability. The Standard missiles will be deployed aboard Japan's four Aegis air-warfare destroyers from around 2011. Australia and Japan signed a security agreement in March.

Australia is acquiring three advanced air-warfare destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system. One option is to equip them with SM-3.

This month, the commander of US naval forces in Japan, Rear-Admiral Jamie Kelly, foreshadowed co-operation between Australia, Japan and the US on a missile defence system should Australia choose to.

Any such deal would create tension with China, a critical export market for Australia.

Reuters, AAP

Discussion and film 1st June

The next SWAG event will be a public discussion and film screening of
“Vieques: worth every bit of the Struggle”
a case study into US Training Areas and Bombing Ranges, to be held at the Club House of Capricorn Cruising Yacht club at Rosslyn Bay, 7pm on June 1st.

Volunteer for the Peace Convergence 2nd June

2007 PEACE CONVERGENCE - Yeppoon 16th- 24th June

HELP PROTEST AGAINST TALISMAN SABER 07 WAR GAMES

Volunteers and Organisation Day

To help with Public meetings, March, Actions, Concert ,Exhibitions

2nd June meeting 2-5pm

To be followed by:
BYO BBQ and unplugged jam session around the fire at Waru Gardens on Tanby Road roundabout.
Get involved , meet nice peace loving folks, have fun and &
SAVE YEPPOON THE PLANET FROM Military MADNESS

Further info Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group - ph4935 1161. More details online here.

 

Support Councillor Brett Svensen's motion to declare Livingstone Shire nuclear free

Support Brett Svendsens's Move to declare the Shire Nuclear free.Brett's motion is based on the motion declaring Brisbane "Nuclear Free". Contact your councilors asking them to vote for the motion to make Livingstone Shire Nuclear Free. See details below .

Dear Councillor,

Livingstone Shire Councillor Brett Svendsen’s motion to declare the shire nuclear free is supported by many residents and has symbolic relevance and benefits for Central Queenslanders.

Nuclear Powered Submarines and Nuclear weapons capable and DU weapons equipped US warships will be off Yeppoon’s Coast next month.

Many LSC residents support the motion including e members of the Citizens Against Depleted Uranium Use (CADUU) formed to research and educate on the DU.

They have found parliamentary Hansard records proving,

  1. United States forces have Australia’s permission to bring DU into Australia. (Note: The DoD has not approved “DU weapons use” in the Talisman Saber 07 War games.
  2. DU has been purchased and used in training by the Australian Defence Force.
  3. The minister has said the Department of Defence (DoD) has no records showing where or when that DU was used.
  4. ADF ”Searches” of ”available” DoD records have “failed to find evidence of DU use” in Shoalwater Bay.

Cnr. Svendsen’s motion symbolises the communities desire to live in a healthy and safe environment. It is not a condemnation of the ADF but a call for the elimination of nuclear weapons, DU and a ban on nuclear power stations now being proposed in our region by the government.

The Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group also supports Cnr Svendsen’s motion based on:

  1. Dr. Zohl de Ishtar’s evidence of rapidly increasing nuclear weapons on U.S. bases on Guam and the Marshall Islands and linked to Joint training in SWBTA.
  2. Dr. Helen Caldicott’s belief that U.S. warships and nuclear powered submarines of the type visiting for TS07 routinely carry nuclear and DU weapons.
  3. The Australian Governments approving Gladstone as an approved nuclear port.
  4. The US weapons systems being used in SWBTA are those currently in service in Iraq using DU munitions and equipment is DU armored. The ADF continues updating its’ weapons systems to match the USA’s

The benefits of a nuclear free shire to residents and tourists far outweigh any perceived benefits of foreign nations nuclear activities in our beautiful shire or Australia.

I urge you to support Brett’s motion on behalf of concerned citizens.

Thank You,

Australian version of "An Inconvenient Truth" Yeppoon Town Hall 30th May

Sue Hayes from Australian Conservation Foundation will show an australian version of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" slide show on Wednesday 30th May (7:00pm) at the Yeppoon Town Hall.

Followed by a question and answer session with members of the public and a panel comprising of :

After the discussion ends we’ll have a cuppa and I’ve invited

to attend in the hope that people can be inspired to by the talk and start using local businesses that have products that will help combat climate change.

SWAG - Film night at Keppel Sands Savoy theatre has been cancelled (possibly postponed to a later date)

Hosts for the event Terry Sykes and Donna Littlejohn have just advised of the tragic death of Donna's 3 year old nephew, in a farm machinery accident at Eungella near McKay.

Our sympathy goes out to Donna and Terry who are particularly close to Donna's brothers family. Donna and Terry have been active and generous supporters of SWAG and the Peace Convergence. They will be out of Yeppoon until at least the 13th June.

World-renowned anti-nuclear activist Helen Caldicott will speak at Yeppoon Town Hall on Friday 22 June.
SWAG is grateful and Central Queensland is privileged to have Physician, Author and Speaker, Dr. Helen Caldicott, accept our invitation to be a keynote speaker at the Peace Convergence in June. She is the single most articulate and passionate advocate of citizens’ action to remedy the nuclear and environmental crises. She founded the USA group “Physicians for Social Responsibility” (membership of 23,000 Doctors) and the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize winning group “International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War”. Of her 5 books,” The New Nuclear Danger: George Bush’s Military Industry Complex” is most relevant to joint US Australian war games in Shoalwater Bay training area.
Dr Caldicott will bring vast professional medical and scientific knowledge to the debate on the risks of military expansion in Shoalwater Bay and Australia generally. Of particular importance she can speak from international experience about dangers posed by nuclear powered submarines and nuclear weapons capable aircraft and warships and operating around SWB, Yeppoon and the Australian coast. She can help fill in a information vacuum created by the USA forces' and the ADF's silence on the nuclear issues raised by Talisman Saber 07.
With both major political parties announcing policies that will increase the risk of nuclear proliferation I would urge people to hear Dr Caldicott speak at the Yeppoon Town Hall on June 22nd.

SWAG kicks off its June campaign with a Beatles v Stones night at WARU on Saturday the 2nd.

Celebrate the spirit of the 60’s at our very own be-in for peace! Come in costume, share information and ideas.

Cancelled
There will be a film night/fundraiser at the Savoy Theatre Keppel Sands on May 12.

Three films will be shown and a BBQ dinner provided. $30 tickets available from Nob Creek Pottery, Yellow Door Bookshop and the Savoy.

Did anyone read Kathleen Noonan’s ‘Last Word’ column ‘Setting the World on Fire’?

(The Courier Mail, April 28-29, 2007, p. 44) Good to see some interest in SWB and TS07 from mainstream metropolitan media. Makes us feel we’re not so isolated in the campaign.

Dr Zohl de Ishtar from Queensland University delivered an enlightening (if not frightening) paper at the Keppel Bay Sailing Club on April 18.

With the sounds of the sea lapping at the door it was a very timely reminder of the price we might have to pay for being implicated in the US military's strategic plan for the Pacific.

A copy of the paper will be posted here when it becomes available.

Re: gig @ Byfield Hall - a great night was had by all!

Thanks to the artists Biorhythms, Sandstone Hammers and Joe Coll. Thanks to all that helped and all who came.

David Suzuki supports demilitarization of Shoalwater Bay

"It is absolutely astonishing to me that today knowing the state of the planet's oceans and the importance of nature, that we would still use an area like Shoalwater Bay to carry out an exercise that endangers it. I suspect that this is far too well planned to turn around but I am with you in trying to stop this madness." David Suzuki

David Suzuki supports demilitarization of Shoalwater Bay

"It is absolutely astonishing to me that today knowing the state of the planet's oceans and the importance of nature, that we would still use an area like Shoalwater Bay to carry out an exercise that endangers it. I suspect that this is far too well planned to turn around but I am with you in trying to stop this madness." David Suzuki

Depleted Uranium Poisoning

Is everybody aware that 2 soldiers have proved positive to D.U. poisoning? An article in this weeks Courier Mail (28th March) documents Gulf War exposure in 1991 ....... tests done in Germany .... it's official ...... Let's use this sad news to discredit the military and call for a complete disclosure of where and when every DU shell has been fired by the Australian Military (we know that 43,000 rounds were purchased in 1981 and used in training - Hansard).

SWAG dance poster

Fundraiser- Byfield progressive dinner Friday March 23

You are invited to join a fundraiser progressive dinner at Byfield this Friday night. Tickets $35 for a really scrumptious meal (lots of courses and very healthily prepared with good karma and lots of love) with the local Byfield community and SWAG (Shoalwater Wilderness Awareness Group)supporters.
Help Save Shoalwater Bay Wilderness Area - Fundraiser for SWAG
THIS FRIDAY - 23RD MARCH AT 6.15PM - in the Byfield rainforest neigbourhood

FIRST COURSE - NOB CREEK POTTERY(COMPLIMENTARY DRINK ON ARRIVAL)
MAIN COURSE - BYFIELD GENERAL STORE
DESSERT - RASPBERRY CREEK HOMESTEAD

BYO - Live entertainment (IN ADDITION TO the great time had meeting the locals of course)

COST - $35 PER PERSON

ALL PROCEEDS TOWARDS SWAG'S CAMPAIGN FOR WORLD HERITAGE LISTING OF THE SHOALWATER BAY MILITARY TRAINING AREA

LIMITED TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR FOR MORE INFO:
- Email Patricia Stevenson p.stevenson@cqu.edu.au - Contact Steve Bishophric or Sue McBurnie on email: suziemcb@cqnet.com.au

New Slideshow: Paintings of Shoalwater Bay by Dieter Irving

Click Here to view a PowerPoint Slideshow (requires Microsoft PowerPoint)

If you don't have access to Microsoft PowerPoint then you can access the slides here

Yeppoon concert coordinator calls for expressions of interest from performers

Contact Steve Butler on (07) 49309217 or email s.butler@cqu.edu.au

Several fundraising events will be held in the Yeppoon area over the next few months.

A progressive dinner, a Beatles live music night are two of the concepts in development. Stand by for further announcements.

Internationally renowned film-maker David Bradbury is visiting Yeppoon on the 18th February

Internationally renowned film-maker David Bradbury is visiting Yeppoon on the 18th Feb to launch SWAG's TS07 campaign. See the article in the Feb 14 edition of the Capricorn Coast Mirror.

The next SWAG meeting

The next SWAG meeting is 7pm Wednesday the 28th of February at the Community Development Centre. All welcome.

Fundraising concert/dance 7th of April

A fundraising concert/dance will be held at Byfield Hall on the 7th of April. Music by Biorhythms, Red Jack and more. Bar, supper, door prize, raffles.

3 big awareness raising concerts on the horizon