Newsletter date: 18 March 2013
Contents:
* The Stringer: Goolarabooloo calls for protection of cultural sites
* ABC Radio National Awaye!: Lurujarri Dreaming
* Walk the Lurujarri Dreaming Trail in 2013
* An LNG Plant at James Price Point?
* Hands off Country: Woodside are back in Country 2013
* Hands off Country: If Woodside enter the sand dunes through the Monsoonal Vine Thickets they will be acting out side the law
* The Stringer: Kimberley voters send strong message - "do not build the Gas Hub"
* Miranda Curran, The Wilderness Society: Wonderland exists, but for how much longer?
* The West: Minister enters Browse debate
* The West: Unions attack Gray over FLNG
* broadcastz.net : Festival for the Kimberley - Watch Broadcast here
* YouTube: Festival for the Kimberley Geoffrey Cousins
* Background to the Walmadan Tent Embassy, James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Agent Orange used as herbicide throughout the Kimberley
* Boris Frankel, The Age: Mining does not offer the answer to indigenous woes
* Tracker: Site desecrated for profit, NT court hears
* SBS Living Black Audio: Quinkan Rock Art in Miner's Sight
* Other articles
* THE STRINGER: GOOLARABOOLOO CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF CULTURAL SITES
- News
The Stringer: Goolarabooloo calls for protection of cultural sites
http://thestringer.com.au/goolarabooloo-calls-for-protection-of-cultural...
14 Mar 13: "Goolarabooloo Traditional Owners are calling for the protection of their cultural heritage after the recent decision by Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to list the Dampier Peninsula Monsoon Vine Thickets as 'endangered' under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act. "We welcome the protection of the environmental values of the monsoon vine thickets by Minister Burke, but we also need protection of our cultural heritage in these areas," said Phillip Roe, Goolarabooloo Senior Law Boss."
* ABC RADIO NATIONAL AWAYE!: LURUJARRI DREAMING
- Audio
ABC Radio National Awaye!: Lurujarri Dreaming
Presented by Daniel Browning; Producer Rico Adjrun
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/lurrujarri-dreaming/4...
16 Mar 13: "Four years in the making, the animated Lurujarri Dreaming documents the Western Australian song-cycle from Broome up through the Dampier Peninsula. This particular song-cycle is part of the annual nine day Lurujarri Heritage Trail which was established in 1987 by Goolarabooloo elder Paddy Roe. Though since 2008 plans for a land based liquefied natural gas development have loomed over the Kimberley coast, in particular James Price Point (Walmadan), located approximately fifty kilometres north of Broome – this area making up part of the Lurujarri Heritage Trail."
Guests: Bernadette Trench-Thiedemen, Phillip Roe, Fran Dobbie, Genny Blades, Stephen Muecke
* WALK THE LURUJARRI DREAMING TRAIL IN 2013
- Upcoming Event
Event: Sat 6 July to Sun 14 July 2013:
North of Broome on the Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley, WA
The Lurujarri Dreaming Trail
Walk the Trail with us in 2013
"In 1987, Paddy Roe initiated the Lurujarri Heritage
Trail as a trigger to encourage the members of the
Goolarabooloo community to be walking the Country
again, as had always been done; to conserve;
renew and stay connected with their heritage and
traditional skills and to keep the same alive for
generations to come. He also sought to wake up
non-Aboriginal people to a relationship with the land;
to foster trust; friendship and empathy between the
indigenous community and the wider Australian
and International communities."
Event details: http://www.goolarabooloo.org.au/lurujarri.html
Event details: http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/lurujarri-heritage-walkin...
WGAR Background to the Walmadan Tent Embassy, WA: http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/walmadan-tent-embassy-james-price-poi...
* AN LNG PLANT AT JAMES PRICE POINT?
- Poster
An LNG Plant at James Price Point?
March 2013 and it's still not a done deal
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SmEP3DFNImo/UUJj8WeaTYI/AAAAAAAAHtE/OxbvMZOo5u...
* HANDS OFF COUNTRY: WOODSIDE ARE BACK IN COUNTRY 2013
- Video
Hands off Country: Woodside are back in Country 2013
http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/woodside-are-back-in-coun...
14 Mar 13: "They're back! Woodside located on Country on the proposed southern pipeline, east side of Manari Road. Woodside are fully committed to invading the sand dunes, Songline and gravesites within the coming weeks. People need to start planning carefully and determine how they intend to participate in the civil actions against Woodside and the state government. Reid Road block full of brand new hire cars; Woodside accommodation in use. Please BE OBSERVANT and notify us on the Gasphone if you see anything suspicious or any movement that you feel with be of interest."
* HANDS OFF COUNTRY: IF WOODSIDE ENTER THE SAND DUNES THROUGH THE MONSOONAL VINE THICKETS THEY WILL BE ACTING OUT SIDE THE LAW
- News and Maps
Hands off Country: If Woodside enter the sand dunes through the Monsoonal Vine Thickets they will be acting out side the law
http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/if-if-woodside-enter-sand...
16 Mar 13: "Woodside's proposed drilling regime in the Songline and Monsoonal Vine Thickets ... Because the Federal Government has just listed the Monsoonal Vine Thickets, located on the coastal sand dunes of Dampier Peninsula as threatened ecological communities, Woodside is required by law to refer their planned works in the sand dunes to the Feds because of this Listing. Until Tony Burke makes a decision on the SAR, Woodside can not touch a leaf within the Thicket and approval for these destructive works needs to be obtained."
* THE STRINGER: KIMBERLEY VOTERS SEND STRONG MESSAGE - "DO NOT BUILD THE GAS HUB"
- News
The Stringer: Kimberley voters send strong message - "do not build the Gas Hub"
http://thestringer.com.au/kimberley-voters-send-strong-message-do-not-bu...
14 Mar 13: "The swing against the Greens in Western Australia was a significant four percent but their Kimberley candidate, Chris Maher, has had a 12 per cent swing to him. For a time during the vote count it looked like he may win - and become the first Greens in WA elected from a general election into the Legislative Assembly (Lower House). But what must not be lost to analysts of Mr Maher’s remarkable polling in the Kimberley is the message his voters have sent to the Colin Barnett Liberal Government - that they do not want a Gas Hub built at James Price Point."
- Related News
ABC: Pilbara, Kimberley record biggest rise in voter participation
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-15/pilbara-kimberley-record-biggest-r...
15 Mar 13: "The Kimberley and the Pilbara had the highest increase in voter participation in Western Australia at last weekend's state election. In the Kimberley, there was a 10 per cent jump in participation compared to the 2008 election, while an increase of almost 6 per cent was recorded in the Pilbara. It is the first election in which voter participation rates have increased state-wide since 1991."
ABC: Greens accused of 'divisive' Kimberley campaign
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/greens-accused-of-divisive-kimberl...
14 Mar 13: "Labor's Kimberley election team is accusing the Greens of threatening voters and running a "nasty" campaign. Two-party preferred figures released yesterday put Josie Farrer in front of the Liberals by more than 1,000 votes. Labor has claimed victory but used the spotlight to single out the Greens' Chris Maher and his campaign team."
ABC: Labor claims Kimberley but others still in balance
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/vote-count-in-four-seats-still-to-...
13 Mar 13: "The Labor Party is claiming victory in the seat of Kimberley with its candidate Josie Farrer now having a commanding lead. The primary vote count for the Kimberley had the National, Liberal, Labor and Greens candidates within reach of each other. But two-party preferred figures have Ms Farrer leading by more than 1,000 votes and the party has claimed victory. The WA Electoral Commission says it will not name a winner until preferences are fully distributed, which will happen on Saturday."
ABC: Labor leads close contest in Kimberley
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-12/labor-leads-close-contest-in-kimbe...
12 Mar 13: "The ALP is now in the lead in what remains a tight contest for the Lower House seat of Kimberley. The latest electoral commission data puts Labor's Josie Farrer ahead with 27.64 per cent of the primary vote, followed by the Liberals' Jenny Bloom, then the Greens' Chris Maher. Ms Farrer leads by about 300 votes after remote polling results were added to the mix but electoral commissioner Warrick Gately says it is too close to call between the top two candidates."
newsTracker: Greens Senator laments WA poll result
http://tracker.org.au/2013/03/greens-senator-laments-wa-poll-result/
12 Mar 13: "WESTERN AUSTRALIA: West Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam admits he’s in strife if weekend state election results carry over to the federal election in September. There was a swing of nearly four per cent against the Greens in the WA poll, cutting the party’s representation in the upper house by half. "If the numbers fall exactly the same way … it is difficult as a minor party to get elected," he told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday."
* MIRANDA CURRAN, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: WONDERLAND EXISTS, BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER?
- Analysis / Opinion
The Wilderness Society: Wonderland exists, but for how much longer?
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/wonderland-exists-but-f...
6 Mar 13: "STUNNING, pristine, wild - this is the breathtaking Kimberley region. The battle lines are drawn over its future at James Price Point, where one of the largest industrial developments in the world is proposed against a backdrop of strong community resistance. An opinion piece by Miranda Curran. ... Broome’s exceptionally beautiful coast and the wild and pristine Kimberley is worth fighting for and to win this David and Goliath battle, will set a precedent for future towns or minorities to fight inappropriate development of fragile and special places. ... in this case, there are viable economic alternatives." By Miranda Curran, Mt. Lawley resident & Wilderness Society volunteer
* THE WEST: MINISTER ENTERS BROWSE DEBATE
- News
The West: Minister enters Browse debate
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/16345304/minister-enters-b...
12 Mar 13: "Influential Federal Labor Minister Gary Gray has made an explosive intervention into the debate over Woodside's $40 billion Browse gas project, arguing that floating LNG processing would put Australia at the cutting edge of technology for generations. The former Woodside executive and Special Minister of State is the first senior Gillard Government member to break cover on the issue of whether gas should be processed onshore at James Price Point or on huge floating vessels offshore, as for Shell's Prelude field." Peter Kerr, The West Australian
- Related News
Australian: Doubts about Browse despite WA support
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/breaking-news/doubts-about-brow...
12 Mar 13: "WOODSIDE Petroleum's $40 billion Browse gas project looks less likely to go ahead despite the re-election of its biggest supporter, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett. Some analysts believe the controversial proposal to build a gas plant at James Price Point, near Broome, is not economically viable due to spiralling costs and challenges securing labour. They expect Woodside's final investment decision on Browse to be delayed by at least another year, meaning state government approvals for the project will lapse." Kim Christian From: AAP
Australian: Walk from James Price a win for Woodside
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/walk-from-james-p...
11 Mar 13: "THE wallets of shareholders could be the big winners if, as expected, Colin Barnett's re-election sets in motion the series of events that ultimately will see Woodside Petroleum and its partners walk away from the proposed $US45 billion ($43.9bn) James Price Point LNG plant. Don't be surprised if, now that he's been safely re-elected, the positive rhetoric from the West Australian Premier towards the controversial proposal begins to ease." Paul Garvey
* THE WEST: UNIONS ATTACK GRAY OVER FLNG
- News
The West: Unions attack Gray over FLNG
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/wa/16354576/unions-attack-...
13 Mar 13: "Unions have savaged a senior Gillard Government minister's call for Woodside's $40 billion Browse gas project to be developed via massive floating vessels, saying it would threaten thousands of jobs and local manufacturing workshops. Special Minister of State and former Woodside executive Gary Gray made the provocative comments to WestBusiness on Monday, arguing there was far more to be gained for the WA economy and future generations by developing expertise in the cutting-edge technology than pursing land-based processing." Peter Kerr, The West Australian
* BROADCASTZ.NET : FESTIVAL FOR THE KIMBERLEY - WATCH BROADCAST HERE
- Video
broadcastz.net : Festival for the Kimberley - Watch Broadcast here
http://www.broadcastz.net/
"The Wilderness Society - Festival for the Kimberly - Live from Martin Place"
- Past Event
Event: Fri 8 March 2013: Sydney CBD, NSW
The Wilderness Society Sydney:
Festival for the Kimberley
"Calling all Sydneysiders: This is your chance
join us for a fun-filled day to bring the stunning
beauty of the Kimberley region to Sydney,
and to stand in solidarity with the people of
Broome against industrialisation as a result of the
planned James Price Point gas hub."
Wilderness Society Kimberley Campaign Manager Glen Klatovsky
said: "The Kimberley faces an historic moment. Will it
retain its unique social and environmental heritage, or
will it become another industrial zone? Some of the key
decision makers reside in Sydney’s CBD. Today is a first
step in telling this extraordinary story to the people
of our largest and most powerful city."
Event details including updated agenda: http://www.respectandlisten.org/kimberley.html
Event details: http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/festival-for-the-kimberley
Event details: http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/kimberley-portal-page/2...
Event summary: http://www.theblackbook.com.au/whatson_detail.asp?id=969&si=0&mi=3&yi=2013
Media Release of 27 Feb 13: http://www.respectandlisten.org/kimberley/news/media-releases.html
WGAR Background to the Save The Kimberley Campaign: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/22/wgar-news-background-to-the-save-the-...
* YOUTUBE: FESTIVAL FOR THE KIMBERLEY GEOFFREY COUSINS
- Video
YouTube: Festival for the Kimberley Geoffrey Cousins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgzfao1puv8
8 Mar 13: "Geoffrey Cousins talks about the future of this great area... "
* BACKGROUND TO THE WALDAMAN TENT EMBASSY, JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, KIMBERLEY REGION, WA
Last updated: 12 March 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/walmadan-tent-embassy-james-price-poi...
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: AGENT ORANGE USED AS HERBICIDE THROUGHOUT THE KIMBERLEY
- News
The Stringer: Agent Orange used as herbicide throughout the Kimberley
http://thestringer.com.au/agent-orange-used-as-a-herbicide-throughout-th...
15 Mar 13: ""The Government killed my son," said Njikena Elder Lucy Marshall. She said, "The truth must be told." Her son, Cyril Hunter, died in 1983 from exposure to Agent Orange, the toxic chemical used en masse during the Vietnam War. ... He did not last long. But no-one is listening. Despite a 2003 inquiry into the use of Agent Orange in the Kimberley and another inquiry by a scientific panel in 2004 Ms Marshall said that Australians are still not aware of the State and Federal Government neglect and abuse of Aboriginal workers who were most of the workforce handling Agent Orange." By Gerry Georgatos
* BORIS FRANKEL, THE AGE: MINING DOES NOT OFFER THE ANSWER TO INDIGENOUS WOES
- Analysis / Opinion
The Age: Mining does not offer the answer to indigenous woes
Marcia Langton's conservative views dominate the media but her claims lack evidence.
http://www.theage.com.au/comment/mining-does-not-offer-the-answer-to-ind...
12 Mar 13: "It is very disappointing that Russell Skelton's defence of Marcia Langton and her 2012 ABC Boyer lectures on this page last week was based on crude name-calling and misinformation. According to Skelton, ''Marcia Langton's contentious Boyer lectures, described as the most shameful episode in ABC history, appear to have infuriated the unreconstructed few standing to the left of Fidel Castro." ... If Langton and Pearson's neo-liberal ideology continues in Australia, we will see even more indigenous and non-indigenous people homeless, unemployed and on welfare in the coming decade." Professor Boris Frankel, honorary fellow, Melbourne school of land and environment, University of Melbourne
* TRACKER: SITE DESECRATED FOR PROFIT, NT COURT HEARS
- News
newsTracker: Site desecrated for profit, NT court hears
http://tracker.org.au/2013/03/site-desecrated-for-profit-nt-court-hears/
12 Mar 13: "NORTHERN TERRITORY: A mining company damaged and desecrated an Aboriginal sacred site in the Northern Territory for commercial reasons, a landmark court case has heard. Prosecutor Andrew Collett told Darwin Magistrates Court on Friday that OM (Manganese) Ltd was trying to maximise profit at the expense of the site. "It did the things because it was interested in keeping up with its target," he told magistrate Sue Oliver."
* SBS LIVING BLACK AUDIO: QUINKAN ROCK ART IN MINER'S SIGHT
- Audio
SBS Living Black: Quinkan Rock Art in Miner's Sight
By Michelle Lovegrove
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/258374/t...
15 Mar 13: "Listed by UNESCO as one of the top ten rock art sites in the world, the Quinkan rock art in Queensland is now in mining territory. A promise to "leave the rock are alone" has been met with suspicion following recent news that the ancient Quinkan rock art sites in Queensland are in a miner's sights. ... the Greens' Mining spokesperson Larissa Waters says it is not as simple as putting a fence around an area, and mining the rest."
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
newsTracker: Giles aims to "rebuild faith" in CLP; drops Aboriginal affairs
http://tracker.org.au/2013/03/giles-aims-to-rebuild-faith-in-clp-drops-a...
15 Mar 13: "The Northern Territory’s new Chief Minister Adam Giles is wasting no time in rolling back unpopular measures brought in by his predecessor, saying the government was "poison" in the electorate. Australia’s first Aboriginal head of government, Mr Giles says the Country Liberal Party’s (CLP) leadership style had not sat well with the community. "We were poison in the electorate and it is going to take us a long time to build faith," Mr Giles told the ABC’s 730 report on Thursday."
The Stringer: Another death in custody - Casuarina Prison
http://thestringer.com.au/20-year-old-youth-another-death-in-custody-whe...
8 Mar 13: "A young Aboriginal man was found dead in his cell at Casuarina Prison last Wednesday afternoon. This latest death in custody comes on top of a spate of Aboriginal youth suicides and self-harm related deaths since the beginning of this year in Western Australia. So far this year there have been at least seven youth suicides or self-harm related deaths in Perth’s Aboriginal communities. The 20-year-old man, who is of the family Bennell, and for cultural reasons will only be referred to as Mr Bennell was found hanging in his cell at 3:50pm according to the Department of Corrective Services (DCS)."
- - -
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, audio, videos and events.
Subscribers can expect to receive about 7 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.
Sample WGAR News e-newsletters:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-sample-wgar-news-e-ne...
- - -
WGAR events postings:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-events-postings
WGAR background info web-pages:
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/03/about-wgar-news-wgar-background-info-...
- - -
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/