Newsletter date: 24 Apr 2011
Contents:
* Jobs with Justice - Petition Lauch & Rally - May 5
* UN Petition to restore Human Rights to NT Aboriginal People - sign by May 7
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Australia’s Indigenous languages "Top 10 moments in the sun"
* Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump - May 7-8
* Background to Muckaty Station nuclear waste dump
* National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Background to National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
* Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
JOBS WITH JUSTICE - PETITION LAUNCH & RALLY - MAY 5
Jobs with Justice: Protest May 5
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/protest-may-5/
22 Apr 11: "Protest: Stop the NT Intervention - Jobs with Justice now!
Petition launch and rally 12pm Thurs May 5
70 Philip st – Sydney CBD [Outside the offices of Indigenous employment Minister Mark Arbib]
In May, a petition sponsored Unions NT and the CFMEU demanding justice for NT Aboriginal workers will be presented to the Senate. On May 5, the petition will be launched in Sydney by Greens Senator Rachel Siewert and the CFMEU.
The petition demands backpay at award rates for Aboriginal people working for Centrelink payments, half quarantined on a ‘BasicsCard’, as part of the reformed Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) introduced alongside the NT Intervention. ...
The petition has a particular focus on the use of ‘BasicsCard’ workers by the $672 million Intervention housing program (SIHIP). While contractors like Leighton’s Holdings have made millions from SIHIP, Aboriginal people working on housing renovations have been paid as little as $6 per hour. ...
Organised by: Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS) http://stoptheintervention.org/ "
Download the flyer here: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/protest-may-5/
You can sign the petition online here: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/43996.html
- Background
WGAR News: Online petition about Aboriginal workers exploited under SIHIP housing program (2 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-abori...
Jobs With Justice: A union and community campaign for Aboriginal jobs
http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/
Crikey: Workers say they’re being ripped off under indigenous housing program
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/11/12/workers-say-theyre-being-ripped-off-...
Crikey: Indigenous workers are getting screwed under the SIHIP program
http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/11/15/indigenous-workers-are-getting-screw...
UN PETITION TO RESTORE HUMAN RIGHTS TO NT ABORIGINAL PEOPLE - SIGN BY MAY 7:
[A reminder that your signature is needed by 7 May.]
GoPetition: Restore Human Rights to the Northern Territory Aboriginal People
Published by 'concerned Australians'
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/44188.html
26 Mar 11: "Target: Navi Pillay UN Human Rights Commissioner ...
Web site: http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au
Background (Preamble):
Navi Pillay, a former South Africa High Court Judge, is the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She will visit Australia in May.
This follows several years of criticism regarding Australia’s poor human rights record and last year’s visit to Geneva by Aboriginal elders who raised the Northern Territory Intervention with the Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The Northern Territory Intervention imposed in June 2007, without consultation or the consent of Aboriginal people, continues to be a source of grave injustice. It has overridden the rights of the people, placed their culture and languages in jeopardy while removing their control over their land and communities. ... "
You can sign the petition online here: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/44188.html
- Background
WGAR News: Urgent UN petition to restore human rights to NT Aboriginal people (29 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/29/wgar-news-urgent-un-petition-to-resto...
'concerned Australians' - Without Justice there can be no Reconciliation
http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au
OTHER NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
ABC The Drum Opinion: Always was, always will be Aboriginal land
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/97672.html?WT.mc_id=newsmail
21 Apr 11: "I have before me a report by the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and the Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation. It is called Health Impact Assessment of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Its executive summary notes that:
The ways in which the NTER [the Intervention] was introduced and is being implemented are likely to contribute to the high burden of trauma and disease already carried by Aboriginal people across generations. ... " Michael Brull, involved in Stop The Intervention Collective Sydney (STICS)
- Audio
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane
Let's Talk - Indigenous presented talkback:
http://989fm.com.au/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29
14 Apr 11: "Paddy Gibson: Tiga Bayles spoke with Aboriginal rights activist, co-editor of Solidarity magazine and a researcher with Jumbunna Indigenous Centre at the University of Technology in Sydney, Paddy Gibson."
[Includes a lot of discussion on the NT Intervention.]
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasting/audio/98fm-podcast-2011-04-14-88412.mp3
BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Creative Spirits:
Northern Territory Emergence Response (NTER)—"The Intervention": http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/northern-terr...
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Northern Territory National Emergency Response: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_intervention
Jobs with Justice: http://jobswithjustice.wordpress.com/
STICS (Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney): http://stoptheintervention.org/
IRAG (Intervention Rollback Action Group): http://rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/
ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) - NT intervention: http://www.antar.org.au/issues_and_campaigns/nt_intervention
MAIC (Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective): http://maicollective.blogspot.com/
'concerned Australians': http://www.concernedaustralians.com.au/
Defending Indigenous Rights: http://defendingindigenousrights.wordpress.com/
Intervention walk-off's Blog: http://interventionwalkoff.wordpress.com/
Australian Human Rights Commission:
Northern Territory ‘Emergency Response’ intervention: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/intervention/index.html
WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights): http://wgar.info/
AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES "TOP 10 MOMENTS IN THE SUN":
- Opinion / Analysis
Fully (sic) - Crikey's language blog:
Australia’s Indigenous languages "Top 10 moments in the sun"
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2011/04/18/australias-indigenous-lan...
18 Apr 11: "Greg Dickson writes: Every popular blog has to have a Top 10 list, don’t they? Of course, such lists are subjective and a little bit arbitrary, but oh well. Just for fun, and my regular dose of Australian language advocacy, here are my “Top Ten Moments in the Sun” for Australia’s Indigenous languages."
- Related audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA Radio News 21-04-2011
http://caama.com.au/caama-radio-news-21-04-2011
21 Apr 11: "A leading authority on Western Desert aboriginal languages says he was disappointed when bilingual education was dropped from the Northern Territory education system."
HELP STOP THE MUCKATY RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP - MAY 7-8:
Beyond Nuclear Initiative: May 7-8 Tennant Creek community rally
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/2011/04/22/may-7-8-tennant-...
22 Apr 11: "Help Stop the Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump ...
Muckaty Traditional Owners are organising a weekend of action against the waste dump on May 7-8, 2011. We hope that you can support us either by joining us in Tennant Creek or by making a donation to assist in organising the weekend of action. Organisations are encouraged to send short statements of support to be read out at the rally."
BACKGROUND TO MUCKATY STATION NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Beyond Nuclear Initiative’s weblog: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/
Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Muckaty: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/muckaty/
YouTube: Muckaty Voices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcuNpT84Ovo
Proposed Radioactive Waste Dump at Muckaty, NT
Briefing Paper - February 2011
Jim Green B.Med.Sci.(Hons.), PhD
National nuclear campaigner - Friends of the Earth, Australia
Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.org.au/anti-nuclear/issues/oz/nontdump/Dump%20briefing%20...
Nuclear Territory News: Waste Dump News: http://ntne.ws/articles/article.php?section=waste
WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-n...
WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-th...
WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-d...
WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump: 12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-agai...
WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-i...
WGAR News: Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampila...
WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-...
WGAR News: "Muckaty Voices" film; Senate Report into nuclear waste dump plan (16 May 10)
https://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate...
WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-June/00...
WGAR News: PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump (12 Jul 10)
http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/pipermail/blackgreensolidarity/2010-July/00...
WGAR News: Legislation passes enabling a nuclear waste dump to be built at Muckaty, NT (1 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/01/wgar-news-legislation-passes-enabling...
WGAR News: Federal Court challenge over nuclear dump resumes in August (16 Mar 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/16/wgar-news-federal-court-challenge-ove...
WGAR News: Interview with Kylie Sambo, Mark Lane and Dr. Jim Green about Muckaty nuclear waste dump (21 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/21/wgar-news-protest-blockade-by-lake-ty...
WGAR News: Nuclear waste legislation must wait until objections heard in Federal Court (23 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/23/wgar-news-international-day-for-the-e...
WGAR News: Aboriginal groups protest against nuclear waste dump (26 Mar 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/03/26/wgar-news-police-used-to-break-blocka...
WGAR News: Crisis in Japan and Muckaty Nuclear Waste Dump (2 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/02/wgar-news-online-petition-about-abori...
WGAR News: Muckaty Traditional Owners speak out (14 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-abori...
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
- Audio
The Wire: Indigenous activist Les Malezer to co-chair National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
[scroll down page] http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2011-04-20
20 Apr 11: "In a few short months, the first ever National congress of Australia’s First Peoples will kick off discussions about how to address the many issues facing Indigenous people. Long time Indigenous activist Les Malezer has just been elected to co- chair the new body. He says there’s a long list to grapple with, but told Chrissy Kavanagh why he thinks the congress is a step forward. Report features Les Malezer"
- Opinion / Analysis
Australian: Aboriginal leader rejects proposal by chairman of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/aboriginal-leader-rejec...
21 Apr 11: "ABORIGINAL leader Lowitja O'Donoghue has slapped down a proposal by the new co-chairman of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples to rid the organisation of its joint male and female leadership structure. She also advised him yesterday to spend more time fighting for Aboriginal rights in Australia rather than on the international stage."
Australian: Congress flawed from the start
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/congress-flawed-from-the-st...
21 Apr 11: "INDIGENOUS Australians did not need a successor to ATSIC. The first agenda item at the inaugural National Congress of Australia's First Peoples should be a call for its own abolition. It is already clear that the body is unnecessary and potentially divisive, and prolonging its life will do nothing to improve the lives of indigenous people."
BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
WGAR News: Proposed national Indigenous body (29 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/290809-un-expert-calls-nt-intervent...
WGAR News: More media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (31 Aug 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/310809-more-media-responses-to-un-e...
WGAR News: Still more media responses to proposed national Indigenous body (3 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/3-sep-2009-governments-review-of-ab...
WGAR News: Proposed National Indigenous Representative Body (22 Sep 09)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2009/09/23/22-sep-2009-ampilatwatja-anti-inter...
WGAR News: New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body (31 Jan 10)
http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/new-way-summit-delegates-unanimousl...
WGAR News: Proposed National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (2 Feb 10)
[scroll down page] http://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/02022010-national-day-of-action-sat...
WGAR News: New National Congress of Australia's First Peoples (9 May 10)
http://www.indymedia.org.au/2010/05/08/wgar-news-new-national-congress-o...
WGAR News: Co-Chairs of National Congress of Australia's First Peoples elected (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...
ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY:
- Media Release
Aboriginal Legal Service of WA and Deaths in Custody Watch WA:
269 INDIGENOUS DEATHS IN CUSTODY SINCE ROYAL COMMISSION
http://deathsincustody.org.au/269-indigenous-deaths-custody-royal-commis...
13 Apr 11: "Despite West Australian Premier, Mr Colin Barnett recently claiming that his state drives the national economy, apparently money for addressing the tragic ongoing deaths of his Indigenous constituents isn¹t a major priority. Nor does it seem are appropriate policies to deal with the appalling over-representation of Indigenous people in custody.
Two decades after the release of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) report on 15 April 1991, 269 more Aboriginal people have died nationally in custody. This appalling figure is accompanied by the fact that WA currently has the highest percentage incarceration rate of Aboriginal peoples in the nation when you consider that Aboriginal people make up only 4% of this state¹s population.
*(As at 7 April 2011 WA Aboriginal incarceration rates are 38.8% of adults, 73.8% of juveniles)."
See:
WGAR News: Deaths in custody and Aboriginal incarceration rates (14 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/14/wgar-news-deaths-in-custody-and-abori...
WGAR News: Joint National Call to Action to reduce imprisonment of Indigenous people (16 Apr 11)
http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/16/wgar-news-joint-national-call-to-acti...
WGAR News: Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (21 Apr 11)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2011/04/21/wgar-news-elders-speak-out-on-the-nor...
- - -
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities along with other Aboriginal rights issues.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources. These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces and news items. Subscribers can expect to receive about 2 e-newsletters each week.
To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
- - -
You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which focuses on activities and events and provides a point of contact.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.info/