Environmental award for Aboriginal activist

ABORIGINAL activist Kevin Buzzacott has been awarded the Australian Conservation Foundation's (ACF) annual award for his contribution to the environment.

Mr Buzzacott is an Arabanna man with traditional custodial responsibilities for the area around Lake Eyre in South Australia's north.

He has drawn attention to the environment and social impacts of BHP Billiton's Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs.

ACF executive director Don Henry said Mr Buzzacott was a deserving winner of the foundation's Peter Rawlinson Award, given annually for outstanding contribution to the environment.

ACF nuclear campaigner Dave Sweeney said Mr Buzzacott was a tenacious campaigner.

"It is a pretty hard road he has taken, the Roxby Downs mine has a disproportionate influence on politics in South Australia," Mr Sweeney said.

"He has retained a really strong but quiet dignity and has a great hope for the future, he's got a big heart."

Mr Buzzacott was currently battling undisclosed illness and was unavailable for comment.

The ACF award is named after Dr Peter Rawlinson, a biologist and former foundation treasurer and vice president who died while doing field work in Indonesia in 1991
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Environment award winner Kevin Buzzacott says Ban Open cut uranium mines.

I want to thank all those involved for giving me the Australian Conservation Foundation's (ACF) Peter Rawlinson Award on World Environment Day. Thanks to those who nominated me and to those who refereed me. It means alot to me and my supporters. Also thanks to those who gave me the SA Conservation Council's Jill Hudson Award. And to those who organized and supported the Friends of the Earth fund raiser for my recovery from my health problems.
It has been a hard struggle. We are not going to get it easier but we must keep on going to have a peaceful world free from uranium issues. As we all know, the Roxby expansion is supposed to happen soon so everyone should be working together to ban the open cut mine. Leave uranium in the ground. The old country is too precious to be mucked around. Let's look after that old country, and be happy on the country. Let's make the country happy instead of making the country sick. Thanks and stay strong,
Uncle Kev