WGAR News: Jagath Dheerasekara: Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud: burn magazine

Newsletter date: 31 March 2013

Contents:

* burn magazine: Jagath Dheerasekara: Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud
* Canberra opening of 'Manuwangku - Under the Nuclear Cloud': Sun 7 April 2013
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump

* Helen Musa, Canberra CityNews: Exhibition honours true believer
* Canberra opening of 'I Do Have a Belief' - Kevin Gilbert (1933-1993) Art Retrospective: Sat 6 April 2013
* Sovereign Union: The Murrawarri Republic declaration
* NITV News: Aboriginal activists meet Black Power founders
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies

* Let's Talk's Tiga Bayles interviews Ray Jackson, President, Indigenous Social Justice Association
* The Stringer: Judge slams practice of imprisoning children in adult prisons
* Background to Aboriginal imprisonment and Deaths in Custody

* SBS Living Black: Traditional Languages Vital in Closing the Gap
* NIRS: Discussion lacking on Gap strategies: Researcher

* NITV: Indigenous kids removed from families 'in record numbers'

* NIRS: Qld health concerns lead to funding review call

* Other articles

* BURN MAGAZINE: JAGATH DHEERASEKARA: MANUWANGKU, UNDER THE NUCLEAR CLOUD

- Photographs and Story

burn magazine: Jagath Dheerasekara: Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud
http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2013/03/jagath-dheerasekara-manuwangk...
23 Mar 13: "Aboriginal communities around Manuwangku have been opposed to the nomination of their country as a site for radioactive waste since its initial proposal. ... The photographic narrative 'Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud' is a portrayal of this community’s resilience in the face of an overwhelming conflict, and an attempt to capture the determination of a people bound together through a common struggle, to keep their traditional land free and safe. ... "

* CANBERRA OPENING OF 'MANUWANGKU - UNDER THE NUCLEAR CLOUD': SUN 7 APRIL 2013

- Upcoming Event

Event: 7 April until 4 May 2013: Forrest, Canberra, ACT
Manuwangku - Under the Nuclear Cloud
Canberra Opening Sun 7 April 2013
Photographs by Jagath Dheerasekara
Curated By Judith Crispin
To be opened by special guest speaker:
Ms Penny Phillips, Manuwangku (Muckaty) Traditional Owner
Venue: Manning Clark House Gallery: http://manningclark.org.au/
Gallery Opening Hours:
Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm
"Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud is a
series of photographs by Jagath Dheerasekara
presenting the community and country around Muckaty,
120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek in the NT."
"For over five years this area has been the focus
of federal government pressure as a site to
dump radioactive waste. The federal plan is
deeply unpopular and is being actively opposed."
"Sri Lankan photographer Jagath Dheerasekara
received the Amnesty International Human Rights
Innovation Grant 2010 and has developed the
exhibition as a collaborative project with the
Beyond Nuclear Initiative and Muckaty Traditional Owners."
"Please support this important campaign by
attending the Canberra opening and considering
a donation to assist with costs for Penny Phillips
to travel from Tennant Creek."
jagath dheerasekara photographs and story: http://jd.photoshelter.com/gallery/Manuwangku-Under-the-Nuclear-Cloud-NT...
jagath dheerasekara homepage: http://jd.photoshelter.com/index
Essay in burn magazine: http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2013/03/jagath-dheerasekara-manuwangk...
Interviews with Manawangku traditional owners Isobel Phillips & Doris Kelly: http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10023
Beyond Nuclear Initiative (BNI) homepage: http://beyondnuclearinitiative.com/
Amnesty International Australia: http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights
Event details: http://www.facebook.com/events/171018886384500/
Event details: http://manningclark.org.au/event/manuwangku-under-nuclear-cloud
Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/505240856205148/
WGAR Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump in NT: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...

* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

Last updated: 22 March 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...

* HELEN MUSA, CANBERRA CITYNEWS: EXHIBITION HONOURS TRUE BELIEVER

- Review

Canberra CityNews: Exhibition honours true believer
http://citynews.com.au/2013/exhibition-honours-true-believer/
26 Mar 13: "ONE of the most important retrospectives being held during the Centenary of Canberra celebrations ... "I Do Have a Belief" exhibition marks 80 years since Gilbert, the outspoken Wiradjuri artist, poet and political activist, was born, and 20 years since he died. The first Aboriginal print-maker, Gilbert was also the first published Aboriginal playwright and political writer in Australia. ... In 1979 he [Kevin Gilbert] was awarded a National Book Council Award for "Living Black: Blacks Talk to Kevin Gilbert" and a Human Rights Award for Literature for his 1988 anthology "Inside Black Australia."" By Helen Musa

* CANBERRA OPENING OF 'I DO HAVE A BELIEF' - KEVIN GILBERT (1933-1993) ART RETROSPECTIVE: SAT 6 APRIL 2013

- Upcoming Event

Event: Thu 28 March to Sun 14 April 2013: Belconnen, Canberra, ACT
I Do Have a Belief:
Kevin Gilbert (1933-1993) Art Retrospective
Location: Belconnen Arts Centre
Producer: Gilbert Family
"I Do Have a Belief is an exhibition and events
celebrating the life of Kevin Gilbert and his contribution
to the local community, advancing human and political
rights and Aboriginal sovereignty at a national and
international level."
"The showcasing of his creative work includes
unseen oils, lino‑prints, published poetry,
political works, and photographic murals."
Special event will be held on:
* 1 April at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Special events will be held at Belconnen Arts Centre:
* Sat 6 April - Performances by musicians including
Bart Willoughby, Buddy Knox, Dale Huddleston;
opening by Margo Neale and family members
* Sun 7 April - Exhibition Floor Talk
* Sun 14 April - Exhibition program by Euroka Gilbert
Event details: http://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/whatson/idohaveabelief.html
Event details: http://www.canberra100.com.au/calendar/view/751/i-do-have-a-belief---kev...
Event details: http://citynews.com.au/2013/exhibition-honours-true-believer/
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/i-do-have-a-belief-%E2%80%94-kevin-gilbert-1933-...
Event details: http://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/email/130308%20I%20Do%20Have%20A%2...
eBooks by Kevin Gilbert (1933 - 1993): http://kevingilbert.org/
Other Centenary of Canberra Aboriginal events: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/actindnetwork/message/20210
WGAR Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement: http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...

* SOVEREIGN UNION: THE MURRAWARRI REPUBLIC DECLARATION

- News

Sovereign Union: The Murrawarri Republic declaration
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/murrawarri-republic-declaration
"On the 30th March 2013, Murrawarri people from the Culgoa River region of northern New South Wales declared their Sovereignty of their lands under the name of the Murrawarri Republic. In a formal declaration (below) the peoples of the Murrawarri Republic attested that they have never ceded their Sovereignty, Dominion or Ultimate Title over their ancient homeland nor did they give permission for the colonisers to enter their ancient land and for their mother earth to be violated through progressive illegal acts, practices or policies of the British Crown, Former British Colonies, The state of New South Wales and Queensland or the Australian Federal governments."

* NITV NEWS: ABORIGINAL ACTIVISTS MEET BLACK POWER FOUNDERS

- Video

SBS World News: Aboriginal activists meet Black Power founders
Source: Jeremy Geia, NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1750978/Aboriginal-activists-meet-Bla...
27 Mar 13: "Indigenous activists met with key figures from the Black Power movement today in Melbourne, to talk about historical connections and future campaigns. ... Gary Foley is regarded as one of the leading Aboriginal activists in the nation's modern history, and he says the Black Power movement was true self determination. "That's all Black Power was about," he told NITV News. "Black control of black affairs." For Robbie Thorpe it's a time that black Australia needs to revisit. He's calling on the new generation to recapture the spirit of the black rights movement."

* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT AND THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:

Last updated: 25 March 2013

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

* LET'S TALK'S TIGA BAYLES INTERVIEWS RAY JACKSON, PRESIDENT, INDIGENOUS SOCIAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION

- Audio Interview

Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Ray Jackson
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
26 Mar 13: "President of the Indigenous Social Justice Association. Speaking about the NSW Police integrity commission enquiry."
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/ray-jackson-7/

* THE STRINGER: JUDGE SLAMS PRACTICE OF IMPRISONING CHILDREN IN ADULT PRISONS

- News

The Stringer: Judge slams practice of imprisoning children in adult prisons
http://thestringer.com.au/judge-slams-practise-of-imprisoning-children-i...
25 Mar 13: "83 Aboriginal children remain in a Perth adult prison after an alleged January 31 riot at Banksia Juvenile Detention Centre. Last week the Children’s Court president Judge Denis Reynolds said that the harsh conditions imposed on the children by being held in adult prison should be taken into account when sentencing. During a decision handed down in the Perth Children’s Court Judge Reynolds said that children having to be detained in an adult prison could be a breach of the Young Offenders Act."

* BACKGROUND TO ABORIGINAL IMPRISONMENT AND DEATHS IN CUSTODY:

Last updated: 25 March 2013

http://indymedia.org.au/2012/12/17/background-to-aboriginal-imprisonment...

* SBS LIVING BLACK: TRADITIONAL LANGUAGES VITAL IN CLOSING THE GAP

- Audio Interview

SBS Living Black: Traditional Languages Vital in Closing the Gap
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/260404/t...
29 Mar 13: "Governments are failing to recognise that traditional languages can be used more effective than English to close the gap in all areas of disadvantage. ... Among all the programs, polices and strategies used to close the gap lies the failure to recognise traditional languages as an effective tool to end disadvantage. ... He [Richard Trudgen] says governments still do not realise the importance of learning to communicate in an appropriate language, be it traditional or not."

* NIRS: DISCUSSION LACKING ON GAP STRATEGIES: RESEARCHER

- Audio

National Indigenous Radio Service: Discussion lacking on Gap strategies: Researcher
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/28937/Discussion-lacking-on-Gap...
28 Mar 13: "NIRS/98.9fm: A prominent Australian National University researcher says the Federal Government needs to more accurately report its closing the gap target findings. ... Jon Altman from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research says at best, the progress so far has been mixed."

* NITV: INDIGENOUS KIDS REMOVED FROM FAMILIES 'IN RECORD NUMBERS'

- Video

SBS World News: Indigenous kids removed from families 'in record numbers'
Source: Geremy Geia, NITV
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1750984/Indigenous-kids-removed-from-...
27 Mar 13: "The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care says says Australia is at risk of creating another stolen generation. Muriel Bamblett from the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency says Indigenous Australia is over-represented in child protection and under-represented in family services. She called for the "failed government policies" dealing with child abuse to be replaced by community controlled solutions. "All the evidence suggests that most Aboriginal children come into care because of neglect and not abuse... " Ms Bamblett said.

* NIRS: QLD HEALTH CONCERNS LEAD TO FUNDING REVIEW CALL

- Audio

National Indigenous Radio Service: Qld health concerns lead to funding review call
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/28938/Qld-health-concerns-lead-...
28 Mar 13: "NIRS/ABC: The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council says a new report highlights the need to fund the community-controlled health sector. ... Council Chief Executive Selwyn Button says the community controlled health sector is making progress, but it isn’t supported by current funding arrangements."

* OTHER ARTICLES:

- Audio

The Wire: SA Constitutional recognition 'not enough' for some Aboriginal groups
Produced by Lisa Burns
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=10183
27 Mar 13: "It’s been a historic week for South Australians, with the Bill to recognise Aboriginal people in the State’s Constitution finally passed through parliament, after months of planning and negotiations. The amendment will recognise past injustices and acknowledge Indigenous citizens as the first owners and occupiers of South Australia.
Featured in story:
* Professor Peter Buckskin, Convenor of the State's Advisory Committee on the recognition of Aboriginal people in the South Australian Constitution
* Karno Walker, sovereign tribal lawman and chairperson, spokesperson for Ramindjeri Nation"

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/am-28-03-update.mp3
28 Mar 13: "A prominent South Australian Aboriginal rights campaigner says that the states formal recognition of his people was nothing more than a good backslapping exercise for the two major political parties and that it will have little meaning in real terms."

Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/am-27-03.mp3
27 Mar 13: "A South Australian MP says despite the passing of a Bill which formally recognises Aboriginal people in the state’s constitution, well meaning words are inadequate unless they’re backed by positive action."

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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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