WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.info/
National Council of Churches in Australia:
NATSIEC - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
WCC Living Letters: Visit concludes with release of statement
http://www.ncca.org.au/departments/natsiec/559-wcc-living-letters-
Sep 10: "The World Council of Churches' Living Letters Team has now concluded its visit to the Northern Territory and released a statement. The statement will be followed by a more detailed report in coming weeks. The team visited several communities and spoke to people who came from other places. Many of the team members expressed shock at what they heard as they did not realise that these things still happened in Australia."
- Statement
World Council of Churches Living Letters Statement
http://www.ncca.org.au/files/Natsiec/WCC_Living_Letters_statement_NATSIE...
Sep 10: "We have heard about the Northern Territory Emergency Response, also known as the Intervention which was initiated by the Howard Government ostensibly to address child abuse. We have heard the Intervention has taken control of the lives of Aboriginal Peoples through such measures as compulsory income management and compulsory acquisition of leases over Aboriginal land. We have heard that it was necessary to suspend aspects of the Racial Discrimination Act in order to implement these measures. We have heard of the people’s confusion and despair at these extreme measures and their hope for change with the change of Government in 2007. Despite this hope, the Labor government has continued the Intervention which remains a blight on Australia’s reputation."
- Media Release
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the National Council of Churches in Australia
World Council of Churches Living Letters Visit
http://www.ncca.org.au/home/media-releases/570-world-council-of-churches...
20 Sep 10: "The team spent the past week visiting communities at Galiwink’u, Mapuru, Wadeye, Hermannsburg, Amoonguna and Mount Nancy Town Camps. ... The visit has been a profound experience for all team members. Some expressed shock at what they saw and heard saying, “we did not realise this was still happening in Australia”. Particular concern was expressed about the discrimination, oppression and racism observed during the visit. As Indigenous and marginalised peoples themselves, the team were able to connect the stories and experiences they heard about on-going colonisation and systemic racism in Australia with their own experiences."
- Further Resources
World Council of Churches: Living Letters solidarity visit to Australia - 12-17 September 2010
http://www.overcomingviolence.org/en/peace-convocation/preparatory-proce...
Stop the Intervention: World Council of Churches Living Letters Visit
http://stoptheintervention.org/facts/press-releases/world-council-of-chu...
World Council of Churches listen in Mapuru - Community update 14th September 2010
http://stoptheintervention.org/uploads/files_to_download/Homelands/WCC-v...
- Audio
ABC Sunday Nights: World Council of Churches scrutinises the NT intervention: The N.T. Intervention under scrutiny
http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/s3015949.htm
19 Sep 10: "Studio guests include Ms Maria Chavez Quispe (World Council of Churches), Graeme Mundine (co-ordinator of the visit) and the Rev. Sealin Garlett of the Uniting Church."
- News
Catholic Leader: Territory shame
http://www.catholicleader.com.au/news.php/top-stories/territory-shame_68331
26 Sep 10: "Mr Mundine [NATSIEC executive director] said the international observers had been shocked by Australia's hypocrisy on the treatment of its indigenous people. "These visitors noted Australia was very strong on criticising other parts of the world on breaches of human rights," he said. "However, the Living Letters team witnessed astronomical abuses - discrimination, oppression and racism - occurring in our own backyard.""
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney: Action Not Words Needed Says Indigenous Leader
http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2010/2010913_653.shtml
13 Sep 10: "Government efforts with regard to Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in the past two years have included such historic events as Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generation in 2008, together with moves to have Indigenous People recognised as the first Australians in the Constitution, and the recent agreement by PM Gillard for a Welcome to Country to become part of the opening of Parliament. But as Graeme Mundine [co-ordinator for the investigation by the WCC team] points out: "These events are merely words, not actions.""
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)