Senator Andrew Bartlett
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
 
Because I'm a caring, sharing kind of guy (must be the social worker in me), I thought I'd share the text of a form letter email I've been receiving from Argentina. It's a perfectly reasonable request (accompanied by what I assume is the same thing repeated in Spanish) to ensure that Australian nuclear waste doesn't get imported to Argentina.

Although the Democrats and I support their issue, I'm not totally convinced about the value of mass email campaigns from overseas. Anyway, I thought some people may want to read this once - I've received 1285 in the past 5 days (but don't cry for me).

Dear: John Howard, Liberal Party of Australia Mark Latham, Australian Labour Party, Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats Bob Brown, Australian Greens John Anderson, National Party
I am an Argentine citizen who, like thousands of others and over 390 environmental and civil society organsiations in my country, is deeply concerned about the proposed Nuclear Agreement between Australia and Argentina. I am writing to you ahead of your general election to ask that you publicly commit that if elected, you will work to renegotiate the agreement between your government and mine so that it does not violate our national constitution. With its current article 12, the Agreement would open the door to Argentina receiving and treating nuclear waste from abroad. This would violate Article 41 of the Argentine National Constitution which does not allow the importation of other countries\' nuclear waste. Though the agreement was signed by the Australian government in 2001, it is still awaiting approval by the Argentine Congress. Strong public and NGO opposition has stalled the agreement for 3 years, but now some deputies are trying again to get it approved as quickly as possible. Your commitment to renegotiate the treaty if elected, eliminating the possibility of processing Australian nuclear waste in Argentina, could save Argentina from soon becoming the radioactive dump of the industrialized world. I hope I can count on your help at this crucial time.

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Wednesday, October 06, 2004
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