Newsletter date: 20 November 2012
Contents:
* Gerry Georgatos: Mining Deal Bombshell - Fortescue and the Yindjibarndi
* Chris Graham: Beer Goggles - The politics of backing grog bans despite scant evidence they actually work
* The Wire: Aboriginal women who experience sexual violence have a new support network
* Greens Rachel Siewert: JPP [James Price Point] protection relies on Minister Burke as the WA Government greases the wheels of industrialisation
* Graham Lloyd: New action to stop $35bn gas hub [James Price Point, WA]
* Background to the Walmadan Tent Embassy, James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA
* Northern Star: Byron Bay Tent Embassy challenges legitimacy of land council
* More Tributes to Aunty Isabell Coe, an elder of the Wiradjuri tribe
* Background to the Aboriginal tent embassies
* Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda calls for the ongoing debate in the media about the definition of Aboriginality to stop
* Other articles
* GERRY GEORGATOS: MINING DEAL BOMBSHELL - FORTESCUE AND THE YINDJIBARNDI
- News
National Indigenous Times: Whistleblower reveals Fortescue’s backing for Wirlu-murra to undermine Yindjibarndi stand
Indymedia Australia: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/19/mining-deal-bombshell-fortescue-and-t...
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
NIT: http://www.nit.com.au/news/2218-mining-deal-bombshell-exclusive.html
19 Nov 12: "A lawyer who spent more than a year representing the interests of the Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation has claimed the organisation was a "quickly formed front" to enable the Fortescue Metals Group to circumvent negotiations with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation to secure mining rights on Yindjibarndi lands in the Pilbara worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The allegations are serious and point to the multi-billion dollar mining conglomerate trying to use its almost limitless source of funds to create an alternate Aboriginal group that would comply with Fortescue's wishes ... " By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos
See:
Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation
http://yindjibarndi.org.au/yindjibarndi/
* CHRIS GRAHAM: BEER GOGGLES - THE POLITICS OF BACKING GROG BANS DESPITE SCANT EVIDENCE THEY ACTUALLY WORK
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: Beer Goggles
http://tracker.org.au/2012/11/beer-goggles/
19 Nov 12: "NATIONAL: The politics of backing grog bans despite scant evidence they actually work. With changes of government in both Queensland and the Northern Territory recently, alcohol restrictions in Aboriginal communities have been hotly debated in mainstream media. But ironically, the government’s seeking to relax grog bans are both conservative, the traditional political home of those who support government control of black lives. CHRIS GRAHAM* delves into the politics of grog, and the reasons why some still support grog bans, despite strong evidence which shows they don’t work." By Chris Graham, the former managing editor of Tracker magazine, and a monthly columnist and contributor
* THE WIRE: ABORIGINAL WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL VIOLENCE HAVE A NEW SUPPORT NETWORK
- Audio Interview
The Wire: Hey Sis, we got your Back
Produced by Michele Harris
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9864
16 Nov 12: "Aboriginal women who experience sexual violence in Australia, and the women who care for them, have a new support network to help them share their knowledge to better deal with the traumatic effects of the violence. Called "Hey Sis, We've got your back", the network brings together Aboriginal women from around New South Wales who are already supporting women affected by sexual violence in the state's cities and towns. Eventually, they hope to take the program nationwide. ... "
"Featured in story: Ashlee Donohue - Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Corporation
Related Links:
* Mudgin-gal Corporation http://www.redfernfoundation.org.au/index.html
* "Hey Sis, we've got your back" http://www.heysis.com.au/Home.aspx
* NSW Rape Crisis Centre http://www.nswrapecrisis.com.au/ContactUs.aspx "
* GREENS RACHEL SIEWERT: JPP PROTECTION RELIES ON MINISTER BURKE AS THE WA GOVERNMENT GREASES THE WHEELS OF INDUSTRIALISATION
- Media Release
Greens Rachel Siewert: JPP protection relies on Minister Burke as the WA Government greases the wheels of industrialisation
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/jpp-protec...
16 Nov 12: "The WA Government's predictable approval of the James Price Point LNG development means final responsibility for protecting the area's future sits squarely with Environment Minister Tony Burke, the Australian Greens said today.
"It is obviously no surprise that the WA Government has given the go-ahead to the James Price Point development, now it is up to the Federal Government to demonstrate the sound judgement needed to recognise the serious threat posed by this project," Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
"The wheels of this development, which looms as an industrial gateway for the Kimberley, have been greased at every stage by the WA Government and today's announcement is no exception. ... " [said Senator Rachel Siewert]"
* GRAHAM LLOYD: NEW ACTION TO STOP $35BN GAS HUB [JAMES PRICE POINT, WA]
- News
Australian: New action to stop $35bn gas hub
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/new-action-t...
19 Nov 12: "FRESH legal action has been launched to stop Woodside's $35 billion gas hub project at James Price Point, near Broome, which has divided Aboriginal and community groups in Western Australia's far north. The WA Supreme Court has been asked to overturn the state government's second attempt at compulsory acquisition of the site and rule the $1.5bn compensation deal negotiated with the Kimberley Land Council invalid." By Graham Lloyd
* BACKGROUND TO THE WALMADAN TENT EMBASSY, JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, KIMBERLEY REGION, WA
Last updated: 13 November 2012
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* NORTHERN STAR: BYRON BAY TENT EMBASSY CHALLENGES LEGITIMACY OF LAND COUNCIL
- News
Northern Star: Byron Bay Tent Embassy challenges legitimacy of land council
http://www.northernstar.com.au/news/the-byron-bay-tent-embassy-has-chall...
19 Nov 12: "THE Byron Bay Tent Embassy has challenged the legitimacy of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, saying local tribes must be consulted on the future of their land. The challenge came after the land council recently moved to apply for a petroleum prospecting licence spanning 900sq km from Murwillumbah to Mullumbimby. In response to the application, traditional land owners began camping illegally last week in Heritage Park and plan to do so for the next two months."
* MORE TRIBUTES TO AUNTY ISABELL COE, AN ELDER OF THE WIRADJURI TRIBE:
- Tributes
Indymedia Australia: Aunt Isabel Coe has died, aged 61
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/12/aunt-isabel-coe-has-died-aged-61
12 Nov 12: "it is with great shock and sadness that i inform of the death of a warrior, a leader and mentor and educator to all people, regardless of race or skin colour, aunt isobel coe. ... to the coe and craigie families, to her very many friends and to her wiradjuri community we offer our sincerest sympathies to their loss but also the dreadful loss to the aboriginal movement." By Ray Jackson
australia asia worker links: VALE Isabel Coe: 1951 - 2012
http://www.aawl.org.au/content/vale-isabel-coe-1951-2012
11 Nov 12: "Isabel Coe is an elder of the Wiradjuri tribe, one of the biggest Aboriginal tribes in New South Wales. Isabel is best known for her relentless and determined struggle at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, which has been standing strong since 1972. On 11 November 2012, we are deeply saddened at the loss of Isabel Coe, and we extend our deepest condolences to the Coe and Craigie families. Rest in Peace Aunty Isabel."
- Compilations
WGAR News: The Wire: Influential tent embassy activist passes away [Isabel Coe] (15 Nov 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/15/wgar-news-the-wire-influential-tent-e...
WGAR News: Update on Aunty Isabell Coe's funeral ... (18 Nov 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/18/wgar-news-update-on-aunty-isabell-coe...
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 15 November 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONER MICK GOODA CALLS FOR THE ONGOING DEBATE IN THE MEDIA ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF ABORIGINALITY TO STOP:
- Media Release
Australian Human Rights Commission: 'Aboriginality' is not a political football
http://humanrights.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2012/96_12.html
14 Nov 12: "Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda has called for the ongoing debate in the media about the definition of Aboriginality to stop.
"It is not up to the media, politicians or academics to define whether a person is Aboriginal or not."
"Further, Aboriginality is not defined by the colour of your skin, or whether you live in a remote or urban community. These types of classification set up tensions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as well as often irreconcilable conflicts for many individuals," said Commissioner Gooda.
"I live in metropolitan Sydney and I deal with people in Government, heads of multinational corporations and Indigenous peoples around the world while my mother was born on a mission in Central Queensland. We are both Aboriginal. I am Aboriginal. I am a proud Gangulu," Commissioner Gooda said. ... "
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
Australian: Labor loses plot on Aborigines
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/labor-loses-plot-on-a...
17 Nov 12: "LAST week I argued the Republican campaign in the US elections had been foolish not to try to broaden its appeal, especially to African-American voters. It will never win 50 per cent of them, but increasing its share from 10 per cent to 20 per cent could make a big difference in tight contests." By Christopher Pearson
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