News!
Irradiated Pet Food Recall Highlights Dangers of Nuclearisation
Food Irradiation Watch, members of the Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance, this week are calling for action on food labelling laws to prevent pet foods being treated with nuclear irradiatiion from being sold on Australian shelves. Some pets have died and about 30 cats in Sydney have taken ill as a result of the ingestion of Orijen for Cats, a high-end pet food imported from Canada.
The nuclear treatment of food depleted essential vitamins, creates free radicals and new compounds, the dangers of which are unknown. Australia now permits the irradiation of herbal teas, herbs, spices, nine tropical fruits, therapeutic goods, bee hives, animal feed and pet food. Numerous scientific studies have exposed the harmful effects of food irradiation. Irradiation causes vitamin and amino acid depletion in food. It changes the molecular structure of food forming toxic chemicals linked to: cancer, organ damage, genetic mutations, immune system disorders, tumors, stunted growth, reproductive problems and nutritional deficiencies. (Public Citizen, April 2003)
The illness recently seen in these pets proves without a doubt that the consumption of irradiated products can be unsafe. However, consumers are unable to make informed choices due to the inadequate labelling regulations. Many products consumed by humans or the animals they care for are exempt from labelling as they are not legally deemed to be "food" under Australian (and New Zealand) law.
For more information see the website of Food Irradiation Watch
Nuclear: no way!
What You can do:
1) Be informed
The biggest weapon the pro-nuclear lobby has is our lack of knowledge about the dangers of nuclear technology, uranium mining and the possibilities and realities of alternatives.
See our fact sheets to find out more [here]
2)
Write letters & sign petitions
Politicians, the business community and the wider community need to know that people are opposed to the nuclear industry.
Contact key Queensland Labor politicians and your local representatives, and let them know that you don’t want uranium mining, nuclear power or waste dumps in Queensland or anywhere in Australia.
Kevin Rudd : Kevin.Rudd.MP@aph.gov.au
630 Wynnum Rd , Morningside 4170 tel. 3899 4031
Premier Anna Bligh : premiers@ministerial.qld.gov.au
tel. 3224 4500 & 3832 1322
Unit 2, Hill House 541 Boundary St, Spring Hill 4000
Level 15, Executive Building 100 George St, Brisbane 4000
- Email your letter to the editor:
The Australian - letters@theaustralian.com.au
Courier-Mail - cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
- Subscribe to our weekly e-news and get regular suggestions for letter writing, the latest news in breif and events you can attend to become more informed and support anti-nuclear advocates. [subscribe here]
3)
Get Involved!
Now more than ever the anti-nuclear movement needs your input.
You can get involved at home, in your community, at school or in the work place by simply talking to people. You can attend events organsied by our member groups or organise your own stall, film screening, speaker or library display. We can provide you with literature and resources or you can download our fact sheets [here]
Contact us Robin on 0411 118737 for more info.
See Friends of the Earth's website for more events [here]
Or subscribe to our weekly e-news [subscribe here]
For a brief overview of the problems with uranium mining see our fact sheet "10 reasons to oppose uranium mining" [here]
Email us: nuclearfreequeensland [at] yahoo.org.au