WGAR News: "International Olympic Committee rules need review" Australian Human Rights Commission

Newsletter date: 6 August 2012

Contents:
* NIT: Damien Hooper, strikes trouble for wearing T-shirt with the Aboriginal flag to his Olympic Games debut
* AHRC: International Olympic Committee rules need review
* Background to Damien Hooper wearing the Aboriginal flag
* Misha Schubert: NT poll a judgment on intervention from the people most affected
* More 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* ABC: Council implored to oppose Muckaty nuclear dump
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Other articles

* NIT: DAMIEN HOOPER, STRIKES TROUBLE FOR WEARING T-SHIRT WITH THE ABORIGINAL FLAG TO HIS OLYMPIC GAMES DEBUT

- News

National Indigenous Times: Damien Hooper, strikes trouble for wearing T-shirt with the Aboriginal flag to his Olympic Games debut, says
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1568-damien-hooper-strikes-trouble-for-wearin...
4 Aug 12: ""It was worth it" He did the right thing, says Anthony Mundine. Australian boxer Damien Hooper said it was worth the risk of getting into trouble with Olympic Games officials on Monday when he wore a t-shirt bearing the Aboriginal flag to the ring before his debut fight. The exciting light heavyweight said he was proud to represent the Indigenous Australian culture. "Well what do you reckon? I'm Aboriginal, I'm representing my culture, not only my country but all of my people as well," Hooper told reporters when asked why he wore the t-shirt."

- Related Audio

ABC The World Today: Olympics overreact to Aboriginal T-shift: boxing officials
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2012/s3557183.htm
31 Jul 12: "MICK GOODA: The Aboriginal flag is actually - and the Torres Strait Islander flag - they're official flags of Australia. But having said that, is it a political statement implying official flag of Australia, I don't know, but obviously someone in the Olympic movement thinks so. But look I think we shouldn't draw too much into it, he's at the Olympic Games for the first time, he's representing his country. He feels he's representing his people, we're proud of him. He's made a statement, let's just let him get on with the business now."

- Related News

The West: Hooper seeks more Aboriginal recognition
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/-/other/14462857/hooper-seeks-m...
5 Aug 12: "Banned from wearing a t-shirt bearing the Aboriginal flag during Olympic competition, boxer Damien Hooper called for greater recognition of his people's culture. ... "I was proud that I did it, I don't regret doing it," Hooper said. "It was disappointing (to be banned from wearing the t-shirt), I think there should be awareness of that. "We are two cultures living in one nation."" Steve Jancetic

The Province: Canadian aboriginal athletes back Australian boxer’s T-shirt stunt
http://www.theprovince.com/sports/2012-summer-games/Canadian+aboriginal+...
1 Aug 12: " ... four-time Canadian Olympian Sharon Firth, a member of the Dene Nation who competed for Canada in the 1970s and 1980s, said Wednesday that she applauds Hooper for standing up for indigenous people worldwide. "What’s the big deal?" said Firth. "The IOC (International Olympic Committee) should examine themselves, broaden their horizons, and wake up." "Sure, you shouldn’t involve politics with sports," she said. "But in reality, all sports are political - even on the Olympic level.""

* AHRC: INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE RULES NEED REVIEW

- Media Release

Australian Human Rights Commission: International Olympic Committee rules need review
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2012/58_12.html
31 Jul 12: "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda says he is disappointed with the current focus on the International Olympic Committee rules, rather than on boxer Damien Hooper’s impressive achievements.
"I do not believe that Damien should have to apologise for wearing the Aboriginal flag. He has admitted he broke a rule and as far as I am concerned that is adequate, however, I encourage the IOC to change their rules to allow for the recognition of indigenous peoples".
Commissioner Mick Gooda says he is proud of the achievements of Olympic boxer Damien Hooper.
He says "Damien is in London representing his country as both an Australian and an Aboriginal person of his culture and identity."
"The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are proud of Hooper. ... ""

* BACKGROUND TO DAMIEN HOOPER WEARING THE ABORIGINAL FLAG:

WGAR News: Congress: No apology needed for being proudly Aboriginal (1 Aug 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/08/01/wgar-news-representatives-of-more-tha...

WGAR News: Adam Brereton: Olympians Can't Leave Politics At Home (3 Aug 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/08/03/wgar-news-stronger-futures-legislatio...

* MISHA SCHUBERT: NT POLL A JUDGMENT ON INTERVENTION FROM THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED

- Analysis / Opinion

Age: NT poll a judgment on intervention from the people most affected
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/nt-poll-a-judgment-on-interven...
5 Aug 12: "IN THE indigenous heart of the country, a democratic tussle is in the making. The Northern Territory heads to the polls on August 25. When it does, the desert people from Yuendemu to Kalkarindji, from Lajamanu to Barunga, could get a choice of four indigenous candidates in the seat of Stuart - a lifetime on from the era when they were few and far between in politics. Labor's Karl Hampton faces a challenge from Maurie Japarta Ryan, founder of the fledgling First Nations party. ... " Misha Schubert, national political editor

* MORE 'STRONGER FUTURES' LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:

- News

SMH: NT backflips on indigenous homelands
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/nt-backflips-on-indigenous-...
2 Aug 12: "In a major policy backflip the ALP Northern Territory government of Paul Henderson will invest $300 million in improving conditions on some 500 homelands -- tiny remote indigenous communities scattered across the territory. The announcement, certain to influence thousands of indigenous voters, comes weeks before Territorians go to the polls on 25 August for what is expected to be a closely fought election that is likely to see the 11 year-old ALP government swept from power. It is clear the Gillard government wants to maximize the Labor vote in the territory ... "

- Audio

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/am-3-08-update.mp3
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
3 Aug 12: "A Gillard Labor Government Minister who rejected criticism of the Stronger futures legislation in the Northern Territory has come under fire from a former chief Justice who he labelled as an armchair critic who didn’t know what was going on!"

* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:

Last updated: 1 August 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...

* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:

Last updated: 1 August 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...

* ABC: COUNCIL IMPORED TO OPPOSE MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP

- News

ABC: Council implored to oppose Muckaty nuclear dump
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-02/muckaty-station-protest/4172982?se...
2 Aug 12: "The Public Health Association, the Council of Trade Unions, and the Arid Lands Environment Centre are calling on the Alice Springs town council to oppose the planned nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station. Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek, has been put forward by the Federal Government as the best solution for the nation's nuclear waste. The proposal has been strongly opposed by some traditional owners and environmentalists. ... Matthew Gardiner ... said that the Northern Territory does not have the capacity to respond to a nuclear accident."

* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

Last updated: 20 July 2012

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...

* OTHER ARTICLES:

- Analysis / Opinion

National Indigenous Times: Mining activity is destroying our community
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/1537-mining-activity-is-destroying-our-com...
4 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times columnist Ian Perdrisat. Walmadany-James Price Point, Broome WA. Re: Rationale for Australian Government to stop the development of a LNG Hub on the Kimberley coast and other destructive developments that would cause extensive environmental damage in their own right but will also establish new industry and mining precincts in fragile... "

- News

National Indigenous Times: Barnett’s hypocrisy
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1566-barnetts-hypocrisy.html
4 Aug 12: "BY National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. The West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett has done a complete about-face with his Government's decision to force Perth's Swan Valley Nyungah community members into a continued life of homelessness and despair by forcing through plans to turn the community area into a park. And to rub salt into the wound of the... "

National Indigenous Times: The unnecessary death of Peter Clarke
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1564-the-unnecessary-death-of-peter-clarke.html
4 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Peter Clarke was near the end of his sentence at Alice Springs Prison, due to be paroled one week after being hospitalised on March 19. But instead he died on April 3. His death occurred after becoming grievously ill while in prison and his family has claimed he was outrageously... "

National Indigenous Times: Roxby protests just the beginning: Buzzacott
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1563-roxby-protests-just-the-beginning-buzzac...
4 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. The huge protests of recent weeks at Roxby Downs in South Australia, the site of the world's largest uranium mine, are just the beginning Arabunna Elder Kevin Buzzacott has warned. Mr Buzzacott said the loss of culture and heritage and the risks to people from the dangers of uranium mining meant the Arabunna... "

National Indigenous Radio Service: Anderson: 'Indigenous people don't have control'
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7431-anderson-qindigenous-people...
2 Aug 12: "The convenor of a movement towards Indigenous sovereignty says Native Title laws in Australia haven’t prevented Indigenous people losing rights to their land. Michael Anderson says delegates from more than 30 nations from around Australia attended a Sovereign Union gathering in Moree in New South Wales last weekend. Mr. Anderson is calling on Indigenous people to stop doing deals with governments that sign away their sovereign rights to their lands."

- Videos

YouTube: Richard Downs on peaceful living
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUdI1cGwXXE
2 Aug 12: "Richard Downs talks about the peace of living out at Honeymoon Bore."

Meet Banjo: Today Tonight Channel 7 Story about the making of Banjo’s War
http://meetbanjo.com/2012/01/23/channel-7-story-about-the-making-of-banj...
23 Jan 12

- - -

About WGAR News:

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...

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;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and tent embassies;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.

'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, news items and events. Subscribers can expect to receive about 4 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.wordpress.com/