THE HISTORY OF URANIUM MINING ON MIRRAR LAND   Exploration for uranium on Mirrar Land in the Kakadu region began shortly after WWII as Australia sought to join the nuclear arms race. In the 1970's the Australian Government sought to expand the uranium industry to feed the nuclear power plants of Europe, America and Asia. Mirrar Country, being on top of the world's richest uranium deposits, was the Government's main target.   From the outset, the Mirrar opposed uranium mining and sought to use every method available to stop the Government and mining interest. However, in the end the Government decided that Mirrar opposition "should not be allowed to prevail." Accordingly, special legislation was passed that allowed the Ranger Uranium Mine to be constructed without Mirrar consent in 1979.   Three years later another mine was proposed for Mirrar land - it was to become known as the Jabiluka Uranium Mine. This time the consent of traditional owners was sought by the Government and the mining company - yet when it did not come they used duress and deceit to force Aboriginal people into an agreement. Aboriginal people were lied to about the nature of "negotiations". The Senior Traditional Owner of the Mirrar at that time, Toby Gangale, was harassed and cajoled every day for months on end. He became sick, depressed and exhausted. Finally he dropped his opposition. For the mining company this was enough - Jabiluka had been "agreed" to.   Yet in 1983, before the Jabiluka Uranium Mine could be built, the social democrat Labor Party was elected to Government in Australia and prevented the development of the uranium mining industry. For 13 years the Jabiluka mine was all but forgotten. Then in 1996, a right-wing Coalition was elected to Government. Despite making promises during the election campaign to protect Kakadu, they allowed the Jabiluka project to proceed on the basis of the deceitful 1982 agreement. For the last years opposition to the Jabiluka Uranium Mine has been Australia's biggest land rights and environmental struggle. Senior Mirrar Traditional Owner, Yvonne Margarula, has led the fight.   Mirrar oppose uranium mining for cultural and environmental reasons. The impact of the Ranger Uranium Mine has been nothing short of disastrous. The most recent Government study found that:   "the social conditions of the Aboriginal population of Kakadu region are no better than they were in the previous decade and are no better than those of their neighbours. The industry, bureaucracy, infrastructure, facilities and services that provide employment and suburban modernity for the region's workforce, and allow comfortable recreation for nearly a quarter million visitors annually, have not provided any significant general improvement in the quality or length of life of the Aboriginal residents".   The Mirrar have fought the Government and Jabiluka mining company ERA in the Courts, in the media and on the ground. Around 70% of Australians back the Mirrar's opposition and support has been received from all over the world. A peaceful blockade of the mine has been in place for 5 months. Soon there will be an election in Australia and Jabiluka will be a major issue in deciding Government.   You can help the Mirrar by sending donations and support to the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation.   Press conference, Ben Elton on Jabiluka ... Australian Aboriginal Clan Leader brings U-Mine resistance to Britain ... Who is Yvonne Margarula of the Mirrar? ... International pressure & the Mirrar fight ... Mining at Jabiluka - People's comments ...