Cruise Report

Jan.19th

Ms. Sue Coleman-Haseldine is a Kokatha woman from the west coast of South Australia. She grew up in the 1950s in the Maralinga area while nuclear testings were taking place that left devastating damages on her family and people. Ever since, she has been serving for the land and her people for a better future for children.

She believes that living with own culture in the desert is important while Australian government does not agree. The government only placed a signboard in English and a person to patrol. Sue began to learn about radiation when a uranium mining company started to mining. It was heartbreaking for her to learn that food harvested from the land was polluted and also the uranium from their land is used in various places.

Nuclear waste is additionally a dire problem. She insists that harming the land is not our right for future children and that the land may seem dry but it is full of life and is definitely not for nuclear testing. Uranium should remain under ground.

Sue has delivered a speech at the United Nations along with ICAN fellows. She believes that ICAN is a great step forward for the future and it is time for the people living in the current generation have to work together. Also she adds that Peace Boat is a space where people from around the world gather and has a potential to make changes. Her session was closed with a hopeful photo session.