Newsletter date: 13 January 2013
Contents:
* Greens Senator Scott Ludlam: Government must do the right thing by Maralinga victims
* ABC: No way forward for Maralinga victims
* Brisbane Times: Aborigines' claim on Musgrave Park set to be tested in court
* Adelaide Now: [Brisbane] Tent embassy land 'for Aboriginal use'
* Background to Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy, Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld
* NIRS: Ramindjeri lawman slams SA Government for destruction of burial site
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* CAAMA: Aboriginal owned & operated youth program funding cut
* Jepke Goudsmit, Green Left: Kinetic Energy brings solidarity with Aboriginal struggles
* Other articles
* GREENS SENATOR SCOTT LUDLAM: GOVERNMENT MUST DO THE RIGHT THING BY MARALINGA VICTIMS
- Media Release
Greens Senator Scott Ludlam: Government must do the right thing by Maralinga victims
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/government-m...
11 Jan 13: "The Greens have called on the Government to ensure victims of the atomic testing at Maralinga are properly compensated after a British court decision overnight shattered hopes for justice.
Greens spokesperson for nuclear policy, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the hopes of Australians exposed to nuclear testing in the 1950s were dealt a serious blow by another UK court ruling against compensation.
"In 2010 the British courts ruled British veterans who participated in nuclear tests in Australia could not sue the Defence Ministry because they could not prove their illnesses were caused by exposure to radiation. Now, Aboriginal people exposed to the same toxic tests have been told their legal fight is over for the same reason.
"Foreign Minister Bob Carr should be on the phone urging the British Government to deal directly with the victims - outside of court - and compensate them appropriately with an act of grace payment."
Senator Ludlam said the veterans have said the exposure caused cancer, birth defects amongst their children, and other disorders such as anaemia. ... "
See:
About Scott Ludlam
http://scott-ludlam.greensmps.org.au/about
1 Jan 2012: "Scott Ludlam is an Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia. Elected in November 2007, he is one of ten Australian Greens in the current Parliament and is the spokesperson for Communications, Housing, Heritage, Nuclear Issues, Infrastructure and Sustainable Cities."
* ABC: NO WAY FORWARD FOR MARALINGA VICTIMS
- News
ABC: No way forward for Maralinga victims
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-11/fight-over-for-maralinga-victims/4...
11 Jan 13: "Aboriginal people exposed to British atomic tests in the South Australian outback have been told by lawyers their fight for compensation is over because it is impossible to prove radiation caused their illnesses. Seven atomic bombs were detonated at Maralinga in the 1950s and '60s on land that has since between handed back to traditional owners. ... The movement's [Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement] director of legal services Christopher Charles says the firm is unable to mount a case because it cannot prove ionising radiation is dangerous to human health."
* BRISBANE TIMES: ABORIGINES' CLAIM ON MUSGRAVE PARK SET TO BE TESTED IN COURT
- News
Brisbane Times: Aborigines' claim on Musgrave Park set to be tested in court
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/aborigines-claim-on-musgrave-...
11 Jan 13: "Indigenous people's claim over a section of Brisbane's Musgrave Park could soon be tested in court for the first time. The area in question is a small parcel of land within the park, listed on Brisbane City Council documents as 'Area C' in a Deed of Grant in Trust (Dogit), which the Beattie government issued in 1999. The small area, which is where the Sovereign Aboriginal Embassy was established in March last year, is listed as "for Aboriginal purposes and no other purpose". ... Wayne 'Coco' Wharton, Bogaine Skuthorpe-Spearim and Hamish Chitts were among those arrested ... " Amy Remeikis
* ADELAIDE NOW: [BRISBANE] TENT EMBASSY LAND 'FOR ABORIGINAL USE'
- News
Adelaide Now: Tent embassy land 'for Aboriginal use'
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/breaking-news/tent-embassy-land-for-a...
11 Jan 13: "POLICE couldn't legally evict three Aboriginal activists from a tent embassy in Brisbane's Musgrave Park because the land has been set aside for Aboriginal use, a court has heard. Wayne Wharton, Bogaine Skuthorpe-Spearim and Hamish Chitts were arrested at the Aboriginal tent embassy shortly after midnight on December 12. The trio appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday applying to amend their bail conditions, which state they cannot return to the park." Miranda Forster
- Related News
Courier Mail: Three men, including Musgrave Park Aboriginal tent embassy leader Wayne Wharton, face court over protest with police
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/three-men-including-musgra...
11 Jan 13: "THREE Aboriginal men charged when the Musgrave Park tent embassy was dismantled by police in December last year face an uncertain wait after a Brisbane magistrate reserved his decision to grant bail allowing them to visit the site. ... Barrister Andrew Preston argued the land the Aboriginal people occupied at Musgrave Park was freehold and granted to the Brisbane City Council in trust for Aboriginal purposes on July 29, 1999." Brooke Baskin
* BACKGROUND TO BRISBANE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGN EMBASSY, MUSGROVE PARK, SOUTH BRISBANE, QLD:
Last updated: 4 January 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/brisbane-aboriginal-sovereign-embassy...
* NIRS: RAMINDJERI LAWMAN SLAMS SA GOVERNMENT FOR DESTRUCTION OF BURIAL SITE
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Ramindjeri lawman slams SA Government for destruction of burial site
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7733-ramindjeri-lawman-slams-sa-...
11 Jan 13: "A senior tribal law man of the Ramindjeri people of South Australia says a failure to recognise Indigenous sovereignty in Australia has led to the destruction of an Aboriginal burial site. Karno Walker of the Ramindjeri Heritage Association says 48 bags of Aboriginal remains have been collected on the first day of monitoring alone from a Southern Expressway Duplication construction site. Mr. Walker says the SA Government failed to properly consult with the Ramindjeri people on the development which is an insult to their status as a sovereign people."
See:
About the National Indigenous Radio Service
http://www.nirs.org.au/about-us
"The National Indigenous Radio Service Limited (NIRS) is a national service provided from a hub station residing in Brisbane. It networks material for Indigenous media organisations that don't have the staffing or capital requirements to provide a 24-hour high quality broadcast to their audience."
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 4 January 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* CAAMA: ABORIGINAL OWNED & OPERATED YOUTH PROGRAM FUNDING CUT
- News
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Aboriginal owned & operated youth program funding cut
http://caama.com.au/aboriginal-owned-operated-youth-program-funding-cut
12 Jan 13: "An Aboriginal justice agency has expressed discontent at Government funding cuts to an Indigenous owned and operated program which works with at-risk youth... The Balunu Foundation youth camp allowed disadvantaged Aboriginal youths to re-connect to their culture and identity by dealing with the underlying issues faced... while providing them with the essential skills, knowledge and confidence they need in order to make the right choices."
See:
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."
* JEPKE GOUDSMIT, GREEN LEFT: KINETIC ENERGY BRINGS SOLIDARITY WITH ABORIGINAL STRUGGLES
- Review
Green Left: Kinetic Energy brings solidarity with Aboriginal struggles
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53084
11 Jan 13: "Sydney-based Kinetic Energy Theatre Company's team of six actors performed their show about the Australian 1965 "freedom ride" at Sydney University on December 14. The performance was part of a conference organised by the Aboriginal Studies Association and attended by teachers and Aboriginal counsellors from all over NSW. The show tells the story of how the freedom ride came about, with prominent students such as Jim Spigelman and Ann Curthoys at the helm, and how the first Aboriginal student ever to enrol at uni and get a degree, Charlie Perkins, took on his legendary role as leader and activist." By Jepke Goudsmit, co-director of Kinetic Energy and Kinetic Jazz
- Event
Event: Sat 26 January 2013: Enmore, Sydney, NSW
Reflection - Australia Day Special
Kinetic Jazz Festival
"Wiradjuri elder Ray Jackson will acknowledge the
traditional owners of this land, and reflect on the
significance of this day. As an act of solidarity with
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island nations of
this stolen continent, patrons may apply for and
be issued with an Aboriginal passport today.
NB: Bring $10 plus a passport photo."
Event details: [scroll down page] http://kineticjazz.com/Kinetic_Jazz_Festival/Program.html
Article: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53084
See:
About GLW - the need for alternative media
http://www.greenleft.org.au/about
"In these days of growing media concentration, Green Left Weekly is a proudly independent voice committed to human and civil rights, global peace and environmental sustainability, democracy and equality."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
Koori Mail: AIDA backs Milroy appointment
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
11 Jan 13: "THE Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA) has congratulated its former President Professor Helen Milroy on her appointment as one of six members of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Prof Milroy is a Palyku woman with family from the Pilbara region, Australia's first Aboriginal doctor, first Aboriginal psychiatrist, and only Aboriginal child and adolescent psychiatrist. AIDA President Dr Tammy Kimpton said Prof Milroy was an obvious choice for the role and would 'add critical understandings to shape the Royal Commission's deliberations and recommendations to government'."
Koori Mail: Housing 'ahead of schedule'
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
11 Jan 13: "The Federal Government says more than 5000 homes in remote Indigenous centres have now been refurbished or rebuilt, almost two years ahead of schedule. The work is part of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing."
National Indigenous Radio Service: NRL players camp to focus on learning about culture
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7736-nrl-players-camp-to-focus-o...
11 Jan 13: "National Rugby League Indigenous player manager Dean Widders says a camp for Indigenous players in February will aim to connect them with their culture and communities. Kangaroos stars Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston are organising the first ever camp for all Indigenous NRL players on the Sunshine Coast in the week of the All Stars match. Mr. Widders says the Indigenous Player Leadership Camp shows how seriously the players take their position as community role models."
- - -
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 5 or 6 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 provides a point of contact and includes occasional activities and events.
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/