Newsletter date: 28 May 2012
Contents:
* Foundation Meeting of the Sovereign Union - National Unity Government
* NIT: Coco Wharton: I’ll defy the white man’s bail conditions
* Interview with Adam Stone on Brisbane Tent Embassy
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Tennant Creek Rally marking five years since Muckaty nomination
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Other articles
* FOUNDATION MEETING OF THE SOVEREIGN UNION - NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT:
- Media Release
Foundation Meeting of the Sovereign Union - National Unity Government
Sovereign Union: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/foundation-meeting-sovereign-...
Sovereign Union: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/148
Treaty Republic: http://treatyrepublic.net/content/foundation-meeting-sovereign-union-%E2...
Indymedia Nederland: https://www.indymedia.nl/node/5064
Indymedia Germany: https://linksunten.indymedia.org/en/node/61043
Indymedia Ireland: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/101903
Indymedia UK: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/05/496399.html
Indymedia San Francisco Bay: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/24/18714076.php
Indymedia Aotearoa: http://www.indymedia.org.nz/article/82414/aborigines-form-their-own-gove...
25 May 12: "A meeting of representatives from across the continent gathered to confirm their intent to form a National Unity Government of the Sovereign Union of First Nations Peoples in Australia.
This intent was confirmed with representatives formally signing an Act of Sovereign Union between First Nations Peoples in Australia.
Michael Anderson, spokesperson for the Sovereign Union said from Wollongong today, "The delegates acknowledged that having now stepped up to the plate of taking on this enormous task of nation building, not just at the national level, but at our local and regional levels as well. The most pleasing aspects of this movement is that nation building has now become organic within our communities throughout Australia. The grassroots people are using their own personal resources to bring their people together to rebuild their own nations and governance.
"It is important to acknowledge this effort because the Sovereign Union is a Peoples' movement and they own it. This is not Australian government inspired nor funded. It was decided that any funds for the further advancement of the Sovereign Union movement is to operate on the basis of goodwill from the people of Australia though donations or bequests (through the Sovereign Union website: http://nationalunitygovernment.org )
"Wayne Coco Wharton said, 'The time has come now for people not to just put their hands up and say they support, they must also understand they have obligations to commit themselves to working to fulfill our set objectives in nation building.' ... "
- Communiqué
Communiqué of the 'Act of Sovereign Union' and stated principles
[scroll down page] http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/148
24 May 12
- Video
YouTube: Sovereign Union - National Unity Government
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60mmgJlpKqE
26 May 12: "Video snapshots by NITV Jeremy Geia - Compiled by nationalunitygovernment.org
... Michael Anderson is the national co-ordinator and responsible for all diplomatic relations both domestic and international."
- Audio
Sovereign Voices of Unity Dootch, Kevin, Pete, Vanessa & Michael
Sovereign Union: [scroll down page] http://nationalunitygovernment.org/
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
CAAMA News 25-05
http://caama.com.au/caama-news-25-05
25 May 12: "A University lecturer in Law and Justice says ongoing claims for sovereignty by Australia’s Aboriginal people are undeniable."
- News
Sovereign Union: Foundation Meeting of the Sovereign Union - National Unity Government
[scroll down page] http://nationalunitygovernment.org/
"Sovereign Union - interim National Unity Government has now been officially formed.
Fred Hooper of the Murrawarri is to head the establishment of the constitutional framework for the National Unity Government - he will be supported by Judulu of the Kunghi (Grubunna) Djunkun ... Michael Anderson is the national co-ordinator and responsible for all diplomatic relations both domestic and international."
Illawarra Mercury: Sovereignty inevitable, says tent embassy founder
http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/sovereignty-i...
24 May 12: "[Michael Anderson] yesterday told a Wollongong forum that indigenous sovereignty was not a matter of if, but when. Speaking at a legal symposium held at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus, Michael Anderson said indigenous people had a legal right to sovereignty, which would lead to a complete change in the legal and political dynamics of Australia. "When our claims are upheld, Australia has to come and talk with us and we have to negotiate how we live together in this country," he said."
UOW: Litigating the boundaries of sovereignty
http://media.uow.edu.au/news/UOW124684.html
23 May 12: "UOW’s Legal Intersections Research Centre and Southern Cross University’s School of Law and Justice today hosted a jointly organised workshop, which aimed to explore the legal and political implications of claims to the continuity of Indigenous sovereignty in Australia articulated by prominent Indigenous activists on the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. ... Speakers at the event included ... Michael Anderson, who gave an introduction to sovereignty claims before exploring the case study of the Provisional Constitution/ Advisory opinion to the International Court of Justice."
- Photos
Sovereign Union: Images - Foundation of Sovereign Union - National Unity Government
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/images-foundation-sovereign-u...
Next meeting: National Unity Government of the Sovereign Union
will be held at Moree NSW on 28th and 29th July 2012.
Sovereign Union: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/
* NIT: COCO WHARTON: I'LL DEFY THE WHITE MAN'S BAIL CONDITIONS
- News
National Indigenous Times: Coco Wharton: I’ll defy the white man’s bail conditions
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news.html
24 May 12: "Queensland Sovereign Tent Embassy spokesperson Wayne 'Coco' Wharton said he would defy his bail condition of staying away from the Brisbane Tent Embassy until his court appearance on May 31 after he and 34 other protesters were arrested when 200 police converged on their campsite at South Brisbane last Wednesday. "I signed the bail conditions because no one from the Aboriginal Legal Service came down to the Watch House to lend assistance and we weren't offered a feed or drink from 9 o'clock when we arrived until 4 o'clock when we were released," Mr Wharton said. "I'll definitely be attending a big corroboree planned at the Tent Embassy camp site this Sunday because the bail conditions are white man's law and not my law. ... "
See:
Sovereign Union: Sovereign Embassy Brisbane
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/sovereign-embassy-brisbane
[Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld]
Facebook: Brisbane Sovereign Embassy, Musgrave Park
http://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneSovereignEmbassyMusgravePark
[Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld]
* INTERVIEW WITH ADAM STONE ON BRISBANE TENT EMBASSY
- Video Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Interview with Adam Stone on Tent Embassy
http://caama.com.au/interview-with-adam-stone-on-tent-embassy
24 May 12: "Paul Wiles interview’s Adam Stone about the saga at the Brisbane Tent Embassy."
- Related News
Koori Mail: Support for Aboriginal embassies
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
25 May 12: "ABOUT 50 people protested outside the New South Wales Parliament today to support Aboriginal sovereign embassies around the nation. Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA) president Ray Jackson called for an end to police attacks on embassies, citing the recent actions against campaigners at Musgrave Park in Queensland and the Nyoongar Tent Embassy on Heirisson Island in Perth."
See:
Sovereign Union: Sovereign Embassy Brisbane
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/sovereign-embassy-brisbane
[Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld]
Facebook: Brisbane Sovereign Embassy, Musgrave Park
http://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneSovereignEmbassyMusgravePark
[Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld]
WGAR News: "Brisbane City Council to try to forcibly remove Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy" MR (16 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/16/wgar-news-brisbane-city-council-to-tr...
WGAR News: "Brisbane police move on Aboriginal Tent Embassy" The Wire (18 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/18/wgar-news-brisbane-police-move-on-abo...
WGAR News: Interview with Sam Watson over Brisbane tent embassy eviction (21 May 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/21/wgar-news-australia-challenged-at-uni...
WGAR News: GL: Eyewitness: Brisbane tent embassy eviction was an outrage (21 May 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/21/wgar-news-australia-challenged-at-uni...
WGAR News: "Brisbane tent embassy given permanent site" Tracker (24 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/24/wgar-news-brisbane-tent-embassy-given...
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 24 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* TENNANT CREEK RALLY MARKING FIVE YEARS SINCE MUCKATY NOMINATION
- Audio
Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI):
Audio from rally in Tennant Creek marking five years since Muckaty nomination
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/2012/05/25/audio-from-rally-in-tennan...
25 May 12: "A rally and march were held today in Tennant Creek (Friday 25) to mark five years since the Northern Land Council voted to nominate Muckay as a potential site for a national nuclear waste dump. 120-150 people attended the rally and speakers included Muckaty Traditional Owners, Minister Gerry McCarthy (NTG), ... Larrakia activist Donna Jackson and Maurice Blackburn lawyer Lizzie O’Shea. The march went from Peko Park to outside the Northern Land Council office where Traditional Owners spoke about the lack of consultation by the NLC before the Muckaty site was nominated."
- Video
YouTube: Muckaty Gathering 25 May 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1J9q-OeEO4
25 May 12: "Alice Springs residents gather in support of the Muckaty Traditional Owners and all peoples opposing the Nuclear Waste Dump in the Northern Territory of Australia."
- News
Tennant & District Times: Muckaty rally today
http://tennantcreek.yourguide.com.au/
25 May 12: "FIVE years of struggle and still standing strong. A rally against plans to construct a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty will be held at noon today, marking five years since the site was nominated by the Northern Land Council (NLC). Under new legislation, the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, Muckaty is the only site that will now be actively pursued by the Federal Government. Muckaty traditional owners will be joined at the rally at Peko Park by residents, Barkly pastoralists and supporters from Alice Springs, Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne ... "
ABC Rural: Tennant Creek protest against Muckaty dump
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nt/content/201205/s3511357.htm?site=&source=rss
25 May 12: "Protesters rallied in Tennant Creek today against a proposed nuclear waste facility at Muckaty Station. It coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Northern Land Council nominating the site as a possible location to store nuclear waste. Allyson Horn from ABC News says around 150 people marched down the main street. "There has been a lot of strong language and it seems people are quite frustrated, angry and upset. "There's a determination from these people to fight what they see is an injustice.""
ABC: March marks five years of nuclear waste push
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-25/tennant-creek-nucelar-waste-dum-pr...
25 May 12: "More than a hundred people have taken part in a protest against a proposed nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory. ... Diane Numbin Stokes is a traditional owner from Tennant Creek and a custodian of the land area that includes Muckaty station. She says the land being set aside for the nuclear waste dump is an Aboriginal men's site, but this does not mean the women can't voice their concerns. "We don't want the waste to come to that land," she said. A Federal Court challenge against the nomination of the site is yet to be settled." By Allyson Horn
* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Last updated: 25 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
Age: Indigenous leader slams Amnesty
http://www.theage.com.au/national/indigenous-leader-slams-amnesty-201205...
26 May 12: "INDIGENOUS leader Bess Price has launched a scathing attack on human rights group Amnesty International for its criticisms of Gillard government proposals to extend parts of the federal intervention in the Northern Territory for a further 10 years. In its annual review of human rights around the globe released this week, Amnesty said the passage of the proposals through Parliament would ''signal a continuation of a dark era for Aboriginal peoples in the Northern Territory''."
See: WGAR News: "Stronger Futures continues dark era for Aboriginal Peoples in the NT" Amnesty Int'l (25 May 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/25/wgar-news-stronger-futures-continues-...
Koori Mail: Old and young honour our Vets
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
25 May 12: "HUNDREDS gathered at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney today to honour the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander war veterans. The commemoration was held for the sixth year as part of National Reconciliation Week, which runs fro 27 May until 3 June. Uncle Allen Madden and Aunty Sandra Lee float a wreath with a little help from students from Ultimo Public School and Our Lady of Mt Carmel Primary School, Waterloo."
- - -
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