Newsletter date: 20 July 2012
Contents:
* Greens Rachel Siewert: 60% of Australians do not support the processing of gas in the Kimberley
* Rachel Siewert: Australian Greens respond to the release of the EPA recommendations on James Price Point
* Tracker: Brown backs Sea Shepherd campaign against Browse
* Walmadan Tent Embassy, James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* ABC Darwin: Bilingual education policy relaxed for bush schools
* NIRS: 'First Four Hours' policy change welcomed
* Background to the use of Aboriginal languages in NT schools
* Background to the Lizards Revenge
* MAPW: Doctors oppose expansion of Roxby Downs uranium mine
* NT Environment groups red light Olympic Dam Transport Option
* Audio: Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna elder talks about 'Olympic Downs'
* Michael Anderson: Lizard’s Revenge - The South Australian Government Ignores Its Founding Document, The Letters Patent From Britain, As Though It Never Existed
* Background to expansion of Olympic Dam mine challenge
* GREENS RACHEL SIEWERT: 60% OF AUSTRALIANS DO NOT SUPPORT THE PROCESSING OF GAS IN THE KIMBERLEY
- Media Release
Greens Rachel Siewert: 60% of Australians do not support the processing of gas in the Kimberley
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/60-austral...
17 Jul 12: "The Australian Greens said today that 60% of Australians do not support the processing of gas in the Kimberley.
Speaking today at the announcement of the Sea Shepherd’s visit to Broome and the Kimberley Senator Rachel Siewert, said polling release today made it clear that Australians say ‘No’ to the development of a gas hub in the Kimberley.
Australian Greens spokesperson on the Kimberley, Rachel Siewert said the planned industrialisation of James Price Point is rightly attracting nation-wide and international attention.
"The proposed development at James Price Point is looming as our country’s next major environmental flashpoint," Senator Siewert said today.
"The importance of this area for Aboriginal people along with its amazing environmental values, including fossilized dinosaur footprints, mean James Price Point is simply too valuable to be given over to industrialisation," Senator Siewert said. ... "
* RACHEL SIEWERT: AUSTRALIAN GREENS RESPOND TO THE RELEASE OF THE EPA RECOMMENDATIONS ON JAMES PRICE POINT
- Media Release
Greens Rachel Siewert: Australian Greens respond to the release of the EPA recommendations on James Price Point
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/australian...
16 Jul 12: "The Australian Greens have today condemned the release of the EPA’s Report and Recommendations on the proposal to locate the Browse Basin Gas Hub at James Price Point in the Kimberley saying environmental assessment has reached a new low point in WA.
Senator Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for the Kimberley and Northern Australia said today, “This report and recommendations need to be rejected by the Federal Government. How can anyone expect the results of this sham of a process to be taken seriously?
“Not only has the process been flawed but the assessment itself is deeply disturbing.
“By recusing four of the five board members due to their connections with the project, and leaving the final decision up to the Chair alone, the EPA Assessment must be considered a flawed process that has not adequately considered this project. ... " [said Senator Siewert] "
* TRACKER: BROWN BACKS SEA SHEPHERD CAMPAIGN AGAINST BROWSE
- News
newsTracker: Brown backs Sea Shepherd campaign against Browse
http://tracker.org.au/2012/07/brown-backs-sea-shepherd-campaign-against-...
18 Jul 12: "NATIONAL: Former Greens senator Bob Brown has traded in his political hat for a pair of sea legs by joining the crew of the Sea Shepherd for an anti-gas hub campaign. The Sea Shepherd crew will be meeting Aboriginal activists in Broome before sailing to the proposed development site - known as the Browse Gas Hub - in early August. The former federal leader of the Greens will board one of the environmental group’s ships as it sets sail for the waters off the West Australian coast near Broome for his first major campaign since retiring from politics last month."
- Related News
Age: Sea Shepherd to take on Woodside
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/conservation/sea-shepherd-to-take-o...
17 Jul 12: "Sea Shepherd conservationists are to mount an Australian mainland campaign for the first time, against the $35 billion Browse gas hub project. The activists will this week set off in their flagship, Steve Irwin, to draw attention to potential impacts on humpback whales of the giant project near Broome, Western Australia. In alliance with the former Greens leader, Bob Brown, and local Aboriginal people, the activists will steam from Melbourne to the Kimberley coast - the main breeding ground for the booming West Australian humpback population."
newsTracker: Woodside gas hub condition 'unworkable'
http://tracker.org.au/2012/07/woodside-gas-hub-condition-unworkable/
17 Jul 12: "KIMBERLEYS: A key environmental condition for Woodside’s Browse gas project in Western Australia is unworkable, conservationists say. ... If it goes ahead with the $30 billion development, Woodside must steer clear of fossilised dinosaur footprints around the shoreline. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and the Australian Greens’ senator for WA, Rachel Siewert, say the condition is unworkable because the dinosaur footprints run the entire length of the Dampier Peninsula."
The West: Damage to dinosaur tracks 'inevitable'
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/14253856/damage-to-dinosaur-trac...
17 Jul 12: "Australian dinosaur expert Steve Salisbury says damage to a nationally heritage listed dinosaur trackway spanning the length of the Dampier Peninsula will be "inevitable" should the gas project at James Price Point go ahead. The Queensland University palaeontologist said he was vindicated this week by the release of a peer-reviewed report confirming the 200km site was internationally significant and that more research was needed."
Koori Mail: Greens slam gas hub approval
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
16 Jul 12: "THE Australian Greens have called on the Federal Government to reject an Environment Protection Authority report that gives the green light to a $30 billion gas hub at James Price Point near Broome in Western Australia. Senator Rachel Siewert decribed the approval process as flawed, pointing out that the approval was granted by the EPA’s chairman Dr Paul Vogel because four of the five board members had connections to the project."
- Related Audio
The Wire: Gas hub approved on whale migration route
Produced by Natalie Muller
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9371
17 Jul 12: "The proposed Liquefied Natural Gas hub on the Kimberley coastline in Western Australia has been given the green light by the state’s environmental body. The Environmental Protection Authority’s approval came with a list of 29 conditions, including that fossilised dinosaur footprints on the Dampier Peninsula remain intact, and that activity around Humpback Whale migration routes be limited. Woodside’s planned $34 billion project has long been a source of controversy, and some environmental groups say there hasn’t been enough research done into how marine life will be affected.
Featured in story:
* Curt Jenner - Managing Director, Centre for Whale Research WA
* Jeff Hansen - Australian Director, Sea Shepherd
* Madeline Goddard - marine biologist, Kimberley Community Whale Research Project"
* WALMADAN TENT EMBASSY, JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, KIMBERLEY REGION, WA
WGAR News: Gerry Georgatos: Police amassing at James Price Point (16 May 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/16/wgar-news-brisbane-city-council-to-tr...
[James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA]
WGAR News: Gerry Georgatos: Woodside and the shire of Broome taken to the Supreme Court by Elder (30 May 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/30/wgar-news-ampilatwatja-community-lead...
[James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA]
Sovereign Union: Walmadan Tent Embassy (James Price Point)
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/walmadan-tent-embassy-james-p...
[James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA]
See:
Facebook: Goolarabooloo and Lurujarri Heritage Trail
http://www.facebook.com/Goolarabooloo
Hands off Country:
http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/
Kimberley Campaigner - Background
http://www.kimberleycampaigner.com/about/history/
Save The Kimberley: Wilderness. Culture. Heritage
http://www.savethekimberley.com/
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 14 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* ABC DARWIN: BILINGUAL EDUCATION POLICY RELAXED FOR BUSH SCHOOLS
- News
ABC Darwin: Bilingual education policy relaxed for bush schools
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/19/3548905.htm?site=darwin
19 Jul 12: "The Government's policy on teaching English in bush schools has been relaxed, after years of outcry and evidence teachers in remote communities have been ignoring the policy anyway. The Australian Education Union NT president Matthew Cranitch said communities were shunning the Government's policy of teaching in English only for the first four hours of classes. He said the policy, introduced in 2008, was widely opposed and the AEU lobbied against its introduction, arguing literacy outcomes were stronger when built on proficiency in a local language."
- Related Analysis / Opinion
Fully (sic) - Crikey's language blog:
Ngurrju! Manymak! Pupuni! NT drops First Four Hours in English policy
by Greg Dickson
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/fullysic/2012/07/11/ngurrju-manymak-pupuni-nt...
11 Jul 12: "It’s been three and a half rather long years, but the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training (NT DET) appears to have finally dropped their much-criticised policy of Compulsory Teaching in English for the First Four Hours of Each School Day. Checking the department’s policies today, it seems to have been quietly removed. As one of the many who criticised and lobbied against this policy, this is gratifying news and I can only hope it’s a permanent move."
* NIRS: 'FIRST FOUR HOURS' POLICY CHANGE WELCOMED
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: 'First Four Hours' policy change welcomed
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7386-first-four-hours-policy-cha...
17 Jul 12: "The Northern Territory Education Department has introduced amendments to the 'English for the First Four Hours' policy in schools. The policy has been replaced it with it's 'Framework for Learning English as an Additional Language', which recognises the need for a more culturally-appropriate education system. ... Dr. Florey [Senior Linguist with the Resource Network for Linguistic Diversity] says a bilingual schooling system would improve literacy and numeracy and the 'First Four Hours' policy had its share of problems."
* BACKGROUND TO THE USE OF ABORIGINAL LANGUAGES IN NT SCHOOLS:
Last updated: 12 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-use-of-aboriginal-l...
* BACKGROUND TO THE LIZARDS REVENGE:
- Background
Lizards Revenge Website: http://lizardsrevenge.net/
WGAR News: "The Lizard's Revenge begins as protesters head to Olympic Dam" The Wire (13 Jul 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/13/wgar-news-the-lizards-revenge-begins-...
WGAR News: "Lizard's Revenge kicks off at Olympic Dam - Saturday 14th July [2012]" Antinuclear (16 Jul 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/15/wgar-news-lizards-revenge-kicks-off-a...
WGAR News: Lizards Revenge media updates from camp; Uncle Kevin Buzzacott declares Sovereignty (18 Jul 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/18/wgar-news-lizards-revenge-media-updat...
- Event
Event: 14 to 18 (or 20) July 2012: Olympic Dam, SA
The Lizard's Revenge:
Olympic Dam expansion music/art/festival/protest
"Sleeping underneath the ground there is an old lizard,
Kalta the sleepy lizard. The lizard ain’t so sleepy anymore.
BHP is mining right into that Lizards body. The government
has just approved an expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium
mine, making it the biggest uranium mine in the world.
Kalta is angry and wants revenge.
Arabana elder Kevin Buzzacot is calling the people of the
world to help the lizard shut down the mine. He is calling
for people to come and heal the land in the name of peace
and justice for the next 10,000 generations to come."
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/the-lizards-revenge-olympic-dam-expansion-musica...
Background: http://londonminingnetwork.org/2011/10/australia-approves-20-30bn-bhp-bi...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/224524544273924
Website: http://lizardsrevenge.net/
Road Trip for Change Tue 3 - Fri 20 July 2012: http://indymedia.org.au/road-trip-for-change-step-outback-and-learn-from...
Invitation from uncle Kevin Buzzacott: http://bhpbillitonwatch.net/2012/06/16/invitation-to-the-lizards-revenge/
* MAPW: DOCTORS OPPOSE EXPANSION OF ROXBY DOWNS URANIUM MINE
- Media Release
MAPW: Doctors oppose expansion of Roxby Downs uranium mine
http://www.mapw.org.au/news/doctors-oppose-expansion-roxby-downs-uranium...
18 Jul 12: "MAPW members are reminding the community about the dangers of radiation by attending the Lizards Revenge, a protest camp next to the Roxby Downs uranium mine gates.
The protest aims to bring attention to the proposed expansion of the mine by BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company. Hilary Tyler, from the Northern Territory Branch of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) is one of the MAPW members at the protest camp.
Dr Tyler says "Australia’s uranium has fuelled the Fukushima disaster. We are also deeply concerned about the long term health consequences from exposure to radiation. These can arise from mining, transport, from uses of uranium such as nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and from the enduring legacy of nuclear waste." ... "
* NT ENVIRONMENT GROUPS RED LIGHT OLYMPIC DAM TRANSPORT OPTION:
- Media Release
NT Environment groups red light Olympic Dam Transport Option
Antinuclear: http://antinuclear.net/2012/07/18/dangers-of-transporting-uranium-from-o...
18 Jul 12: "Members of the Arid Lands Environment Centre and the Environment Centre NT have joined a week long protest outside Olympic Dam uranium mine to highlight the risks of transporting uranium on NT rail and port networks.
More than 500 protestors have camped at the gates of Olympic Dam to protest BHP Biliton’s plans for expansion, a move that would make it the largest open cut uranium mine in the world. The expansion was granted approval last year by the Federal and SA State Governments, but relies on access to NT rail networks and access to the Port of Darwin.
Lauren Mellor from the Arid Lands Environment Centre said "Under the proposed expansion BHP Biliton plans to send another two trains a day, containing an unprecedented 1.6 million tonnes of toxic copper concentrate and 17,000 tonnes of yellowcake, on the Adelaide to Darwin rail line for the next 80 years. Every train puts the environment and communities along the transport route at risk of radiation and contamination. ... ""
* AUDIO: KEVIN BUZZACOTT, ARABUNNA ELDER TALKS ABOUT 'OLYMPIC DOWNS'
- Audio
audioBoo: Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna elder talks about 'Olympic Downs'
http://audioboo.fm/boos/888548-kevin-buzzacott-arabunna-elder-talks-abou...
18 Jul 12: "Kevin, an Arabunna elder from the Lake Eyre region, has been fighting against Olympic Dam Uranium Mine in Roxby Downs South Australia since it began operations in 1986. The mound spring areas, which are dotted all across Arabunna land, are threatened due Olympic Dam using up 30-40 million litres of water each day from the Great Artesian Basin."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/am-18-07-update_pw.mp3
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
18 Jul 12: "Six anti uranium protestors who established a road blockade near the Olympic Dam mine site in the north of south australia have been arrested and taken into custody after they refused to move."
- Related News
newsTracker: Activists critical of police at mine protest
http://tracker.org.au/2012/07/activists-critical-of-police-at-mine-protest/
19 Jul 12: "NATIONAL: ... Most of the activists left the area on Wednesday and organisers declared the event a success, with people coming from all states as well as Japan, Canada and Europe. "However, we are extremely disappointed by the tactics of police, which have included barricading us into our camp, constant surveillance and spotlighting by helicopter, motorbikes and patrol cars 24 hours a day," spokeswoman Nectaria Calan said in a statement on Thursday. "With close to a one-on-one ratio of protesters to police it is hard to understand how the state can justify this excessive deployment of resources." ... "
* MICHAEL ANDERSON: LIZARD'S REVENGE - THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IGNORES ITS FOUNDING DOCUMENT, THE LETTERS PATENT FROM BRITAIN, AS THOUGH IT NEVER EXISTED
- Statement
Lizard’s Revenge - The South Australian Government Ignores Its Founding Document, The Letters Patent From Britain, As Though It Never Existed
Indigenous Peoples: http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=art...
18 Jul 12: "The recent demonstrations against expansion of the BHP Roxby Downs uranium mine in South Australia, led by Arabunna Elder, Kevin Buzzacott, highlight how governments and mining companies ignore and completely override the sovereign rights and human rights of First Nations Peoples, writes sovereignty activist, Michael Anderson.
The last survivor of the four founders of the Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra writes: "The ongoing catastrophe of the Fukushima meltdown in Japan is fresh in our minds and the previous disaster of Chernobyl in the Ukraine still haunts us, but governments are ignoring the warnings and, instead, appear beholden to mining industry, in particular the uranium industry."
Mr Anderson is the National Coordinator of the interim National Unity Government of the 'Sovereign Union', launched at the 40th anniversary of the embassy in January. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO EXPANSION OF OLYMPIC DAM MINE CHALLENGE:
Last updated: 16 July 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/13/background-to-expansion-of-olympic-da...
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