Newsletter date: 2 January 2013
Contents:
* SBS World News Audio: Year in review: Indigenous affairs in 2012
* SBS World News Video: Black rights campaigners call for more action on social media racism
* Online Save The Kimberley Book: Kimberley at the Crossroads - The case against the gas plant
* pindanpost: No Gas at Price’s Point, Broome ... marching across Australia
* Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign - James Price Point, north of Broome, WA
* Ian Thorpe and Jeff McMullen, SMH: As a society we must take action
* Russell Skelton, SMH: In spite of Hollows, the dark goes on
* CAAMA: Veteran campaigner questions Native Title amendments!
* Background to Mabo and Native Title
* ABC Message Stick: Pemulwuy: Australia's first ever Aboriginal resistance fighter
* Pemulwuy: The Movie Petition
* SBS WORLD NEWS AUDIO: YEAR IN REVIEW: INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS IN 2012
- Audio Reviews
SBS World News Audio: Year in review: Indigenous affairs in 2012
Source: Murray Silby, SBS
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1723716/Year-in-review-Indigenous-aff...
31 Dec 12: "Stories relating to Indigenous Australians in 2012 mostly related to a continuing struggle to improve their health, to explain deaths in custody and to satisfy their desire to be recognised as the first custodians of the land. Murray Silby looks back at the past year. ... A major focus of politicians in 2012 was the building of support for a referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution, but that plan was put on hold because the Federal Government said there was little prospect for success. Instead, the Government introduced the Act of Recognition in the hope that it could be used to build awareness of the proposed Constitutional change."
SBS World News Audio: Year in review: Indigenous affairs in 2012 - part 2
Source: Murray Silby, SBS
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1723718/Year-in-review--Indigenous-af...
31 Dec 12: "In 2012, Indigenous Australians have continued to face a struggle to improve many aspects of their lives, including health and welfare. ... In this, the second part of a two part review of Indigenous issues through the year, Murray Silby takes a look back at some controversies, but also the tales of achievement and victory. ... Forty years ago, a group of Indigenous activists established an unofficial tent embassy at parliament house in Canberra in an attempt to reclaim their sovereignty over Australia. Controversial then, the embassy has survived to today and a rally on Australia Day, which some Indigenous people prefer to refer to as Invasion Day, was no less controversial."
See:
Background to Aboriginal imprisonment and Deaths in Custody
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...
WGAR News: Act of Recognition "is an absolute insult to First Nations Peoples" Michael Anderson (8 Dec 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/08/wgar-news-act-of-recognition-is-an-ab...
WGAR News: Amy McQuire: Act of Recognition introduced to lower house (3 Dec 12)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/03/wgar-news-a-decision-to-discriminate-...
Background to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy 40th Anniversary, Canberra, ACT
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* SBS WORLD NEWS VIDEO: BLACK RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS CALL FOR MORE ACTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA RACISM
- Video
SBS World News: Black rights campaigners call for more action on social media racism
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/video/13186115859/Black-rights-campaigners-ca...
26 Dec 12: "Black rights campaigners are once again calling on the social media group Facebook and the Federal Government to do more to tackle racism. The latest page to be flagged by Indigenous users, mocks an Aboriginal man, who was killed in Brisbane just weeks ago."
* ONLINE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY BOOK: KIMBERLEY AT THE CROSSROADS - THE CASE AGAINST THE GAS PLANT
- Online Book
Kimberley at the Crossroads - The case against the gas plant
Compiled by Murray Wilcox QC, former Federal Court judge
for Save The Kimberley
http://www.savethekimberley.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kimberle...
Save The Kimberley: Kimberley at the Crossroads – PDF now available!
http://www.savethekimberley.com/2012/09/19/kimberley-at-the-crossroads-p...
19 Sep 12: "In 2010, with the help of Murray Wilcox QC, STK published this beautifully illustrated volume, 'the case against the gas plant,' (the work’s subtitle) in order to educate our state and federal politicians of the values of Walmadan and surrounding areas, which would be affected by the proposed gas plant. ... Now out of print, but still in high demand, Kimberley at the Crossroads can for the first time be downloaded as a PDF HERE:
http://www.savethekimberley.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Kimberle...
See:
Save The Kimberley: What’s at Stake? Culture and Traditions Under Threat
http://www.savethekimberley.com/whats-at-stake/country-culture/
"The importance of culture:
Today, more than 30 Aboriginal tribes remain in the Kimberley region, each with its own language and many with unique cultural practices. Nobody owns culture. It is loaned to each generation to preserve and pass on to the next generation. Our culture and traditions tie us to this country and we are obliged by our ancestors to see that it continues. We are obliged by respect of country and the hope for a proper life for our children that we honour the culture and traditions of our people."
Save The Kimberley: About Us
http://www.savethekimberley.com/about-us/
"Save The Kimberley is an independent awareness organisation. We are a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer run group which is made up of a diverse and passionate group of individuals - traditional custodians, local Kimberley community, and other committed Australians from all parts: we are business owners, administrators, entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and media professionals."
* PINDANPOST: NO GAS AT PRICE'S POINT BROOME ... MARCHING ACROSS AUSTRALIA
- Photos and Videos
pindanpost: No Gas at Price’s Point, Broome ... marching across Australia
http://pindanpost.com/2012/12/08/no-gas-at-prices-point-broome-marching-...
8 Dec 12: "A fantastic crowd turned out to march against a gas refinery complex at James Price Point this afternoon. It was 40.5C at 3.30 pm, but did not deter a good crowd from participating."
- Event
Event: Sat 8 December 2012:
Broome, Perth, Adelaide & Melbourne
(Inter)national day of solidarity for the Kimberley
Broome No Gas Rally and Concert
- James Price Point: Pristine and Priceless
"On Saturday 8 December, the local community
in Broome, Western Australia, will hold a rally
and concert to oppose the construction of
a giant gas hub on their doorstep.
On the same day, we'll be holding events
around the country in solidarity with Broome,
and to celebrate a fantastic year's work
protecting our precious environment!
Everyone is welcome to join in this
(Inter)national day of solidarity for the Kimberley.
If you can't make it to Broome, then attend an
event in your local area, or join in online!"
The Wilderness Society WA Inc
Event details: http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/national-day-of-action-...
Event details: [scroll down page] http://www.respectandlisten.org/kimberley.html
Broome event details - No Gas Rally and Concert: http://www.savethekimberley.com/events/
Broome flyer - No Gas Rally and Concert: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=459967537373977&set=a.34803984190...
* BACKGROUND TO THE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY CAMPAIGN - JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, WA
Last updated: 1 January 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
* IAN THORPE AND JEFF MCMULLEN, SMH: AS A SOCIETY WE MUST TAKE ACTION
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: As a society we must take action
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/as-a-society-we-must-t...
29 Dec 12: "Somehow these [Aboriginal] children are missing out on most of the building blocks of a happy and healthy life, including education, somewhere we can all make a difference. It is time for Australians to awaken from our complacency over the low literacy standard that has one in four primary school children unable to read at their right age level. Indigenous children in remote communities are often three to four years behind city students. Our nation is failing them. If we believe in equality, more of us must champion literacy, an essential tool." By Ian Thorpe and Jeff McMullen
"Ian Thorpe was awarded the 2012 Human Rights Medal for his personal advocacy and work by his foundation to improve the education of Aboriginal children."
"Journalist Jeff McMullen is the foundation's honorary chief executive."
* RUSSELL SKELTON, SMH: IN SPITE OF HOLLOWS, THE DARK GOES ON
- Analysis / Opinion
SMH: In spite of Hollows, the dark goes on
Trachoma is a blight on Australia, writes Russell Skelton.
http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/in-spite-of-hollows-the-dark-goes-...
29 Dec 12: "Hugh Taylor's war on trachoma began 35 years ago. ... He sums up the situation this way. Vision loss accounts for about 11 per cent of the health gap between mainstream and indigenous Australia. ''Closing the gap is a 25-year process, yet we estimate trachoma and [related] blindness can be virtually eliminated in five years. That would cost the community around $90 million.'' ''If we fail to act now, in 20 years the number of blind or visually impaired Aboriginal people will double from 15,000 to 30,000. It is that simple and that tragic.''" By Russell Skelton
* CAAMA: VETERAN CAMPAIGNER QUESTIONS NATIVE TITLE AMENDMENTS!
- News
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Veteran campaigner questions Native Title amendments !
http://caama.com.au/veteran-campaigner-questions-native-title-amendments
28 Dec 12: "Aboriginal sovereignty campaigner Michael Anderson says former Prime Minister John Howard amended the Native Title Act in 1998 because he was fully aware of the inherent power of Aboriginal peoples based on their continuing sovereignty. Mr Anderson, leader of the Euahlayi nation and spokesman of the Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia says In his endeavours to protect country for non-Aboriginal people, John Howard was unclear and ambiguous as to "which land areas should be classified in the 'national interest', but (this) was done with a clear desire to take away any rights for Aboriginal people"."
See:
Sovereign Union: John Howard recognised continuing Aboriginal sovereignty in his Ten Point Plan for limiting Native Title
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/john-howard-recognised-contin...
About CAAMA
http://caama.com.au/
"The Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) began operations in 1980 and was the first Aboriginal group to be allocated a broadcasting license. The Aboriginal people of Central Australia own CAAMA through an association regulated under the Incorporations Act, and its objectives focus on the social, cultural and economic advancement of Aboriginal peoples."
* BACKGROUND TO MABO AND NATIVE TITLE:
Last updated: 1 January 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/02/background-to-mabo-and-native-title
* ABC MESSAGE STICK: PEMULWUY: AUSTRALIA'S FIRST EVER ABORIGINAL RESISTANCE FIGHTER
- History
ABC Indigenous: Message Stick: Pemulwuy: A War of Two Laws Part 1
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s2893382.htm
9 May 10: "Pemulwuy will chart the history of Australia's first ever Aboriginal resistance fighter. From his first encounter with the British in Botany Bay, to his 12 year war against the establishment, to his eventual demise in 1802 in Parramatta where he was finally beheaded. The program will attempt to expose one of Australia's forgotten histories and an unsung hero of the Bidgigal people of the Dharug language group of Sydney."
See:
ABC Indigenous
http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/
* PEMULWUY: THE MOVIE PETITION
- Petition
GoPetition: Pemulwuy: The Movie Petition
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/pemulwuy-the-movie.html
"Petition Background (Preamble):
In Australia, there exists a general ignorance about the Aboriginal resistance against colonial invasion. This ignorance is a huge contributing factor in the cultural disrespect which results in the shameful inequality of today's Australian population. Pemulwuy’s (c.1750–1802) story is an inspirational narrative which permeates the malaise of Australia’s national identity/s. This heroic saga has been aptly depicted by such works as Eric Willmot’s 1987 novel Pemulwuy: The Rainbow Warrior."
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http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
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