Protecting Country- or extraction? 2021

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A panel of activists, artists, Traditional Owners and researchers will examine the fast and slow violence caused by the most toxic mine in Australia, Glencore's McArthur River Mine.

The world's largest lead, zinc and silver mine, it operates on the lands of the Gurdanji, Mara, Yanyuwa and Garrwa peoples in the remote Gulf Country of the Northern Territory, polluting their waterways and damaging the rich First Nations cultural heritage found in the area. Although the mine is set to operate until 2038, the lasting environmental and social impact of this mine will extend for 1000 years after mining activities cease.

The online exhibition Lead in my grandmother's body, by 2 of the panellists, artistically documents the historical violence experienced by the area's Traditional Owners and encourages those who are moved to show their support by writing to Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to demand action on the McArthur River Mine.

This panel will show how laws apparently intended to protect the environment, in fact facilitate its destruction, and the toxic legacy it leaves behind.

Speakers

Jack Green, Senior Garrwa Leader, Artist and Cultural Warrior

Josephine Davey, Gudanji Woman and Traditional Owner for the McArthur River Region

Dr Seán Kerins, Anthropologist

Dr Kirsty Howey, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory and Deakin University

Professor Tess Lea, University of Sydney

This event is part of the Sydney Environment Institute's Extraction Seriesthat probes the use, impact and future of gas, coal and lead extraction in Australia at a critical point in our changing climate. This event series is part of the Unsettling Resources research project that investigates the dependence of our energy use and systems on conventional energy and the global shift to renewables. Professor Susan Park, Research Lead on the Unsettling Resources project, will open the event.