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Partners wed.30.may.2012 Adelaide’s daily independent news © Solstice Media 2012 Advertising enquiries Click here Editorial enquiries Click here Letters/comments Click here In Adelaide, a city with a pronounced inferiority complex, politicians also love to woo their “stakeholders” with buzzy buzzwords about, well, the city’s buzz. Suzie Keen, on the perils of prolixity VIEW PAGE Adelaide 16° Mostly sunny home news nation /world business sport views reviews ispy property weather WALKERVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL FALLS FOR MAYOR’S PITCH Liam Mannix Pro-nuclear flyer sent home with school newsletter WALKERVILLE Primary School students have been sent a flyer advertising a pro-nuclear power forum being run by the local council, in an apparent breach of Education Department policy. The flyer says the forum will “offer four perspectives on a subject that still divides public opinion”, but goes on to say that all four speakers are pro-nuclear power. Walkerville Mayor Heather Wright concedes the theme is pro-nuclear, although the school says it thought the event would be a balanced conversation. The forum is being staged at the Walkerville Town Hall this Saturday afternoon, June 9. The flyer, titled ‘Is pro-nuclear the best option for our make- or-break century’, was attached to the school’s newsletter and sent home to all parents and students a week ago. It read: “Mayor Heather Wright invites you to take part in a public conversation on the pro-nuclear power debate. Whether you are for, against or undecided, this is your chance to hear why these experts always agree that nuclear power is not only the safest energy source, but the one with the lowest environmental footprint.” The flyer says professors Corey Bradshaw and Barry Brook, environment consultant Ben Heard and Animal Liberation SA board member Geoff Russell will be “presenting the case for nuclear power”. Mayor Wright told Indaily the four speakers held pro-nuclear stances but they all came to that conclusion in different ways – hence the “four perspectives”. She said it was a forum not a debate, so there was no need to have a balanced panel of experts. “It is a pro-nuclear power forum. People need to be educated about things, don’t they?” she said. “It is a pro-nuclear forum, and it’s been advertised as such. The panel are all respected experts in their field, they make no bones... READ MORE The Walkerville Council flyer sent to primary school families Sponsored by <h1>SUZIE DINKUS</h1> <p>In Adelaide, a city with a pronounced inferiority complex, politicians also love to woo their “stakeholders” with buzzy buzzwords about, well, the city’s buzz. </p> <p>Suzie Keen, on the perils of prolixity</p> <p>VIEWS ></p> <h1>The Walkerville Council flyer sent to primary school families</h1> <h2>WALKERVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL FALLS FOR MAYOR’S PITCH</h2> <h3>Pro-nuclear flyer sent home with school newsletter</h3> <h4>Liam Mannix</h4> <p>WALKERVILLE Primary School students have been sent a flyer advertising a pro-nuclear power forum being run by the local council, in an apparent breach of Education Department policy. </p> <p>The flyer says the forum will “offer four perspectives on a subject that still divides public opinion”, but goes on to say that all four speakers are pro-nuclear power. </p> <p>Walkerville Mayor Heather Wright concedes the theme is pro-nuclear, although the school saysit thought the event would be a balanced conversation. </p> <p>The forum is being staged at the Walkerville Town Hall this Saturday afternoon, June 9. The flyer, titled ‘Is pro-nuclear the best option for our make-or-break century’, was attached to the school’s newsletter and sent home to all parents and students a week ago. </p> <p>It read:“Mayor Heather Wright invites you to take part in a public conversation on the pro-nuclear power debate.Whether you are for, against or undecided, this is your chance to hear why these experts always agree that nuclear power is not only the safest energy source, but the one with the lowest environmental footprint.” </p> <p>The flyer says professors Corey Bradshaw and Barry Brook, environment consultant Ben Heard and Animal Liberation SA board member Geoff Russell will be “presenting the case for nuclear power”. </p> <p>Mayor Wright told Indailythe four speakers held pro-nuclear stances but they all came to that conclusion in different ways – hence the “four perspectives”. </p> <p>She said it was a forum not a debate, so there was no need to have a balanced panel of experts. </p> <p> “It is a pro-nuclear power forum.People need to be educated about things, don’t they?” she said. </p> <p> “It is a pro-nuclear forum, and it’s been advertised as such. The panel are all respected experts in their field, they make no bones about that.” </p> <p>Walkerville Primary School principal Wayne Jupe said he had been happy to send out the flyer because he understood the event would be balanced and non-partisan. </p> <p> “It’s not unusual for community news to be shared with our community here at school,” he told Indaily. </p> <p> “[The flyer] talks about public conversation and a debate, and four perspectives. </p> <p> “We certainly wouldn’t promote things that are seen to be controversial or to push one barrow. </p> <p> “Part of school’s purpose, I believe, is to be educational and to allow our students to see two sides of any conversation like this, and we steer clear of this one. </p> <p> “I think it’s an ambiguous flyer because part of the comment here is about a debate and at the school we never take a political stance. We certainly don’t have a view here at the school about any of this debate. </p> <p> “Our belief was it would be a debate type perspective where people could go along, get the information, and that’s probably the intent of us promoting that.” </p> <p>In response to Indaily’sinquiries, an Education Department spokesperson said department policy prohibited the use of school newsletters for political purposes. </p> <p> “Department policy is that departmental equipment and materials are not to be used to promote a political party, candidate or lobby group, nor is their distribution or display allowed on departmental sites,” the spokesperson said. </p> <p> “Political information is not to be forwarded to parents via children.” </p> <p>State Greens leader Mark Parnell – whose party opposes nuclear power - said schools had a duty to present debates on issues like nuclear power fairly. </p> <p> “Schools are places of learning and our educational professionals have a duty to ensure that contentious political issues are not unfairly skewed by only presenting one side of the debate. </p> <p> “I look forward to the Walkerville Primary School delivering a note to all parents advertising the next anti-nuclear meeting in their area.” </p> <p> “I wonder how the good citizens of Walkerville feel about their Mayor and Council using ratepayers’ money to promote dangerous nuclear energy? </p> <p> “Perhaps they will next be advocating a suitable space on Walkerville Terrace for a nuclear power plant? </p> <p> “Perhaps there is also room in the basement of the Council Chamber to store the high level radioactive waste that will stay dangerous for thousands of years? </p> <p> “Or does the Mayor think that these are somebody else’s problem?” </p> <p>Mayor White said she had no plans to develop a nuclear power plant in her suburb. </p> <p>She said she didn’t have an anti-nuclear forum planned, but there was a “very strong possibility” she would put one together. </p>
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