New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Jessica Urwin, "Contaminated Country: Nuclear Colonialism and Aboriginal Resistance in Australia" (U of Washington Press, 2025)
Sep 9, 2025
Jessica Urwin, an environmental and Australian historian, explores the complex legacy of nuclear colonialism in Australia. She discusses the impact of uranium extraction and nuclear testing on Aboriginal communities, highlighting their fight for rights and reparations. Urwin reveals how Indigenous peoples have resisted and reshaped colonial mechanisms over time. The conversation also touches on the intertwining of anti-nuclear activism and Aboriginal rights, emphasizing the importance of land reclamation and the resilience of Indigenous voices in the face of historical injustices.
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Deep Roots Of Nuclear Colonialism
- Nuclear colonialism in Australia began before atomic bombs via radium and uranium prospecting that encroached on Indigenous lands.
- Early radioactive mining connected settler expansion to later wartime uranium exploitation and testing.
Deserts Treated As Testing Grounds
- Britain conducted major and hazardous 'minor' nuclear tests in Australia using desert sites they considered expendable.
- Minor tests often released plutonium and caused severe localized contamination beyond the headline detonations.
Colonial Controls Enabled Testing
- Australian authorities used colonial control mechanisms to manipulate Aboriginal mobility during testing rather than ignoring Indigenous presence.
- Reserve systems, patrol officers, and mission pressures were repurposed to keep people away from test areas.
