WGAR News: Protest over land council mining plans: Mel Barnes, Green Left

Newsletter date: 28 January 2013

Contents:

* Mel Barnes, Green Left: Protest over land council mining plans

* Brisbane Times: Indigenous rally on Australia Day in Qld
* SMH: Sodden but not sunk: How Queenslanders marked Australia Day
* Sovereign Union: Invasion Day March Brisbane 2013
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Background to Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy, Musgrave Park, South Brisbane, Qld

* SBS Radionews Audio: Reviewing the MDGs: Pt 2 [Millennium Development Goals]

* Operation Kimberley Miinimbi Update: No place sacred as Woodside prepares to destroy burial sites and ancient culture for gas in the Kimberley
* Broome Community No Gas Campaign: Why is the Broome Community opposed to the development?
* Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign - James Price Point, north of Broome, WA

* Green Left: Aboriginal freedom fighters commemorated

* Other articles

* MEL BARNES, GREEN LEFT: PROTEST OVER LAND COUNCIL MINING PLANS

- News

Green Left: Protest over land council mining plans
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53154
26 Jan 13: "Members of dozens of local Aboriginal Land Councils protested outside the office of the NSW Land Council on January 25. The peak body of Aboriginal affairs has been criticised for applying for exploration permits for uranium and coal seam gas in areas throughout NSW. Chairperson of the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Roy "Dootch" Kennedy, told Green Left Weekly they were protesting because of serious concerns about the effects of mining and the lack of consultation about the decision." By Mel Barnes

- Event

Event: Fri 25 January 2013: Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
Protest NSW Land Rights
"Protest 10am 25/1/13 at NSW ALC ...
as support to Uncle Dootch Kennedy in Yuin country
& Illawarra in addressing NSWALC move into Mining
exposed by Media in 2012."
"NSW Land Rights becoming mining operator affects
us all and we have had no consultation or respect
shown to date to local Aboriginal people, comunities
and 1st Nations"
Event details: http://www.facebook.com/events/408445595901074/

See:

Mel Barnes - Green Left Weekly
http://www.greenleft.org.au/taxonomy/term/967

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."

- Related Video

NITV News - 25 January part 1
http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/15779907987/NITV-News-25-January-pa...
[The protest is covered first in this news bulletin.]

- Related News

National Indigenous Times: Geoff Scott’s mining plans facing protest
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2388-geoff-scotts-mining-plans-facing-protest...
26 Jan 13: "Hundreds of members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils from the metropolitan regions of Sydney are expected to converge on the offices of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council on Friday to protest against the way the NSWALC is seeking to introduce mining operations into the region. The protest has been called because Local Aboriginal Land Councils claim they are fed up with the lack of consultation from... "

* BRISBANE TIMES: INDIGENOUS RALLY ON AUSTRALIA DAY IN QLD

- News

Brisbane Times: Indigenous rally on Australia Day in Qld
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/indigenous-rally...
26 Jan 13: "Australia Day has opened old wounds for Brisbane's indigenous population, who say their places of worship aren't being respected by authorities. About 300 indigenous Australians and their supporters rallied outside Parliament House on Saturday, calling for sovereignty to be awarded to the first Australians. "Only then can we build a just republic for all who call this place home," Wayne Wharton said. Mr Wharton was one of three indigenous people arrested at South Brisbane's Musgrave Park in December when authorities closed down the Aboriginal tent embassy and extinguished the "sacred fire"." Kym Agius

- Event

Event: Sat 26 January 2013: Brisbane, Qld
Invasion Day rally and march: 2013, Brisbane
Event summary: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477882215581619&set=a.4700539896...
Event summary: http://www.facebook.com/events/539100446101895/
Event summary: http://www.989fm.com.au/events/invasion-day-march-rally-concert/
Event summary: http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-events/
Flyer: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/images/2013/gatherings/invasion-day3.jpg

* SMH: SODDEN BUT NOT SUNK: HOW QUEENSLANDERS MARKED AUSTRALIA DAY

- News

SMH: Sodden but not sunk: How Queenslanders marked Australia Day
http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/sodden-but-not-sunk-how-queenslanders-m...
26 Jan 13: "At Southbank, Australia Day has opened old wounds for Brisbane’s indigenous population, who say their places of worship aren’t being respected by authorities. ... Mr Wharton was one of three indigenous people arrested at South Brisbane’s Musgrave Park in December when authorities closed down the Aboriginal tent embassy and extinguished the "sacred fire". ... Protesters on Saturday marched from parliament house to the park, where they re-lit the sacred fire." Ellen Lutton and Kym Agius

- Event

Event: Sat 26 January 2013: Brisbane, Qld
Invasion Day rally and march: 2013, Brisbane
Event summary: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477882215581619&set=a.4700539896...
Event summary: http://www.facebook.com/events/539100446101895/
Event summary: http://www.989fm.com.au/events/invasion-day-march-rally-concert/
Event summary: http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-events/
Flyer: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/images/2013/gatherings/invasion-day3.jpg

* SOVEREIGN UNION: INVASION DAY MARCH BRISBANE 2013

- Photos

Sovereign Union: Invasion Day March Brisbane 2013
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/493
"Source & larger collection: Brisbane Aboriginal-Sovereign Embassy 101 Photo's"

- Event

Event: Sat 26 January 2013: Brisbane, Qld
Invasion Day rally and march: 2013, Brisbane
Event summary: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=477882215581619&set=a.4700539896...
Event summary: http://www.facebook.com/events/539100446101895/
Event summary: http://www.989fm.com.au/events/invasion-day-march-rally-concert/
Event summary: http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-events/
Flyer: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/images/2013/gatherings/invasion-day3.jpg

See:

About 'Sovereign Union'
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/3
"This is the official website of the Sovereign Union of First Nations and Peoples in Australia. The Sovereign Union was first formed at a meeting on 12-14 June 1999 on Mt Kaputar, near Narrabri, NSW. A delegation was sent to Geneva to the UN Working Group of the Commission on Human Rights to take our sovereign voices to the international community. The Sovereign Union was further formalised with a Foundation Meeting of the 'Sovereign Union – interim Unity Government' at the Kuradji Tent Embassy, near Wollongong, New South Wales on May 25 2012."

* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:

Last updated: 26 January 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...

* BACKGROUND TO BRISBANE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGN EMBASSY, MUSGRAVE PARK, SOUTH BRISBANE, QLD:

Last updated: 26 January 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/brisbane-aboriginal-sovereign-embassy...

* SBS RADIONEWS AUDIO: REVIEWING THE MDGS: PT 2 [MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS]

- Audio

SBS Radionews Podcasts: Reviewing the MDGs: Pt 2
By Andrea Nierhoff
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/251350/Reviewi...
27 Jan 13: "As Australia portrays itself as a champion of the world's disadvantaged, critics point to the plight of its own indigenous people. ... But there are critics of Australia's performance on the MDGs. And there are those who say Australia shouldn't be portraying itself as a champion of the world's disadvantaged when it has a poor record of looking after its own disadvantaged - notably its Indigenous people. Andrea Nierhoff reports. ... Anthony Zwi is a professor of global health and development at the University of New South Wales. He argues that in Australia's case, the way the MDGs are assessed is hiding the true situation of its Indigenous people. ... "

* OPERATION KIMBERLEY MIINIMBI UPDATE: NO PLACE SACRED AS WOODSIDE PREPARES TO DESTROY BURIAL SITES AND ANCIENT CULTURE FOR GAS IN THE KIMBERLEY

- News

Sea Shepherd Australia: Operation Kimberley Miinimbi Update
No place sacred as Woodside prepares to destroy burial sites and ancient culture for gas in the Kimberley
http://www.seashepherd.org.au/news-and-media/2013/01/25/operation-kimber...
25 Jan 13: "As Sea Shepherd's fleet awaits the whale poachers in the Southern Ocean, Woodside prepares to attack our planet’s oldest culture and its largest humpback whales nursery. ... Spokesperson and Goolarabooloo Law Boss Phillip Roe says he and senior law boss Joseph Roe had not been given prior notice of the decision but had learnt about it via the media. "Why do we have to hear on the radio that Woodside has been given permission to destroy our Country, Law and Culture. It’s not right. The evidence from our old people and from us about this Country is clear and has just been ignored," Roe said."

See:

Who We Are - Sea Shepherd's Mission Statement
http://www.seashepherd.org.au/who-we-are/
"Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas."

- Related News

National Indigenous Times: Goolarabooloo Law Bosses lift the ante in Woodside battle over gas hub plan
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2382-goolarabooloo-law-bosses-lift-the-ante-i...
26 Jan 13: "Traditional custodians, Goolarabooloo Law Bosses, Phillip Roe and Richard Hunter have responded to State Government authorisation of sacred site trespass with anger and they have declared they will fight them in the courts and at Walmandan in standing their ground to stop any desecration of sacred ground."

* BROOME COMMUNITY NO GAS CAMPAIGN: WHY IS THE BROOME COMMUNITY OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT?

- Statement

Broome Community No Gas Campaign: Why is the Broome Community opposed to the development?
http://www.broomenogas.org/FAQRetrieve.aspx?ID=43947
"The Broome community is opposed to the development because they believe it will have wide range of environmental, cultural and social impacts on life in our town and on the nearby country. Most people have visited the Pilbara and seen the impacts that major resource development projects bring. Our concerns include: ...
* The development area contains a number of registered Aboriginal heritage sites important to the Goolarabaloo Traditional Owners, who are opposed to the project.
* A song line of importance to all Aboriginal people in the area runs from the tip of the Dampier Peninsula to Broome, passing through the area of the plant."

See:

Broome Community No Gas Campaign - About Us
http://www.broomenogas.org/AboutUs.htm
"The Broome Community No Gas Campaign is a coalition of concerned community members dedicated to stopping the proposed industrial development at James Price Point (Walmadany), north of Broome."

* BACKGROUND TO THE SAVE THE KIMBERLEY CAMPAIGN - JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, WA

Last updated: 25 January 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...

* GREEN LEFT: ABORIGINAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS COMMEMORATED

- News

Green Left: Aboriginal freedom fighters commemorated
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53148
26 Jan 13: "Over 150 people attended a public rally to demand a memorial and park to commemorate two Aboriginal freedom fighters, Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner, on January 20 in Melbourne. Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheenner were the first two men executed in Melbourne on January 20, 1842. The rally was addressed by various activists, including anarchist Joseph Toscano and Socialist Alliance member Davie Thompson. Toscano said the two men were among 16 Tasmanian Aborigines brought to Melbourne in 1839 to be "civilised."" By Hashim bin Rashid, a member of the Awami Workers' Party in Pakistan

- Event

Event: Sun 20 January 2013: Melbourne, Vic
Commemorating the Freedom Fighters
Tunnerminnerwait & Maulboyheener
Please bring flowers
Lest We Forget
Event details: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/images/2013/gatherings/freedom-fighte...

See:

WGAR News: Joseph Toscano, Anarchist World 3CR: Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener - freedom fighters execution (12 Jan 13)
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/11/wgar-news-briscoe-family-condemns-nt-...

See:

Hashim bin Rashid - Green Left Weekly
http://www.greenleft.org.au/taxonomy/term/4563

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:

- Analysis / Opinion

National Indigenous Times: Editorial: Positive news stories?
http://www.nit.com.au/editorial.html
26 Jan 13: "As a big consumer of the media - both print and electronic - I find the dearth of news coverage of successful Indigenous Australians abhorrent. I preface my comments by acknowledging the enormous work our superstar athletes such as Thurston (rugby league)"

- News

National Indigenous Times: Japarta Ryan names Invasion Day for national launch of First Nations
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2381-japarta-ryan-names-invasion-day-for-nati...
26 Jan 13: "Maurie Japarta Ryan has nominated Invasion Day, January 26 to launch his First Nations Political Party nationally. Mr Ryan will launch the FNPP onto the national political landscape on the steps of Old Parliament House on the very spot where former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam announced his sacking by the English Queen's representative Governor-General, John Kerr."

National Indigenous Times: Exclusive: Native Title Tribunal inquiry
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2390-native-title-tribunal-inquiry.html
26 Jan 13: "The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) President, Graeme Neate and the Tribunal's Registrar, Stephanie Fryer-Smith have launched an external inquiry into a former State Manager after reports published in the National Indigenous Times revealed allegations of various improprieties in reference to undeclared interests by its employee to the Tribunal. High Court of Australia officers have arrived in Western Australia as part of this inquiry and have been interviewing people - with only the notice of a few hours. The National Indigenous Times was present when one High Court officer arrived to interview a person connected with the raising of the allegations."

National Indigenous Times: McGlade’s campaign for family violence aid receives a boost
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2391-mcglades-campaign-for-family-violence-ai...
26 Jan 13: "Human rights lawyer and Noongar, Dr Hannah McGlade said it was 20 years ago in 1993 the West Australian Supreme Court Taskforce on Gender Bias recognised Aboriginal women in Perth needed a separate legal service. Now it looks likely it will become a reality with the West Australian Government committing $600,000 a year to establish a metropolitan legal service for Indigenous victims of family violence... "

National Indigenous Times: Helen Milroy appointed to Royal Commission on child sex abuse
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2389-helen-milroy-appointed-to-royal-commissi...
26 Jan 13: "Descendant of the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Professor Helen Milroy has been appointed as one of the Commissioners to the Federal Government's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Six commissioners will examine past and current sexual abuse in organisations, including archdioceses and their churches... "

National Indigenous Times: Maralinga compensation disgrace
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2385-maralinga-compensation-disgrace.html
26 Jan 13: "Long suffering Aboriginal victims of the British atomic tests at Maralinga and Emu Fields have been told by lawyers a class action for compensation would fail and the fight in the courts is over because the Federal Government has claimed it is impossible to adequately prove radiation from the atomic blasts specifically caused their illnesses and the premature deaths. Maralinga victim Yami Lester said the claim was rubbish... "

National Indigenous Times: Duffy lashes media for negative portrayal of Indigenous people
http://www.nit.com.au/news/2380-duffy-lashes-media-for-negative-portraya...
26 Jan 13: "Mainstream media misrepresents Indigenous Australians as drunks when the majority live wholesome lives without alcohol or domestic violence, a senior Indigenous leader has told the Queensland Government's Inquiry into Child Protection."

- - -

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 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/