Newsletter date: 28 July 2013
See:
WGAR News: Protect Arnhem Land Campaign: Respect and Listen [Northern Territory - NT, Australia] (25 Jul 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/24/wgar-news-protect-arnhem-land-campaig...
WGAR News: Arnhem Land Traditional Owners call for an end to fracking: The Stringer (22 March 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/03/22/wgar-news-arnhem-land-traditional-own...
Contents:
Updates:
* Green Left TV, YouTube: 'We need sea and land rights in Arnhem land' [Featuring Mrs. Eather, a community activist from Maningrida, 22 July 2013]
* NIT (National Indigenous Times): Traditional Owners stand up to US miner in Sydney protest [19 July 2013]
* LeftandCorrect, YouTube: Protect Arnhem Land from Paltar Petroleum - Sydney, Australia [19 July 2013]
Background:
* Respect and Listen: Protect Arnhem Land: Background Info [mostly early 2013]
* Respect and Listen: Protect Arnhem Land: From the Environment Centre NT: Maps and Letters on Paltar oil exploration [2012 and 2013]
* The Stringer: Arnhem Land Traditional Owners call for an end to fracking [21 March 2013]
* Reporter Jane Bardon, ABC Radio National Breakfast: Concern over fracking in Arnhem Land [18 March 2013]
* Jane Bardon, ABC Rural: Traditional Owners burn Arnhem Land fracking plan [18 March 2013]
* Emma Murphy, Green Left: NT Shale gas boom set to meet resistance [23 February 2013]
* Matt Brann, ABC Rural: Arnhem Land leader laments failure to stop oil and gas exploration [22 February 2013]
* Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth, Green Left: Oil, gas exploration threatens Arnhem Land [2 February 2013]
* YouTube: Protect Arnhem Land Awareness Day [8 December 2012]
* Katrina Channells, Vimeo: Stingray Sisters: Documentary coming soon... [Preview, January 2013]
* GREEN LEFT TV, YOUTUBE: 'WE NEED SEA AND LAND RIGHTS IN ARNHEM LAND' [FEATURING MRS. EATHER, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST FROM MANINGRIDA, 22 JULY 2013]
- Video
* Green Left TV, YouTube: 'We need sea and land rights in Arnhem land'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZtHq4dKAKw
22 Jul 13: "Alice Eather, a community activist from Maningrida, Northern Territory, was part of a delegation of Aborigines from Arnhem land who came to Sydney in July 2013 to oppose the company Palter Petroleum from drilling for oil and gas in the sea off Arnhem land which carries their traditional songlines and is the basis of their livelihood. Filmed by Katrina Channells, interviewed and edited by Peter Boyle for Green Left TV."
- Related Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Push to inform Maningrida community about mining
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29650/Push-to-inform-Maningrida...
26 Jul 13: "By Warren Barnsley: To Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory - Anti-mining campaigners at Maningrida say they've invited Paltar Petroleum to visit to the community and sit down with traditional owners. ... Maningrida woman Grace Eather says she wants her people to be informed about what could happen to country."
* NIT (NATIONAL INDIGENOUS TIMES): TRADITIONAL OWNERS STAND UP TO US MINER IN SYDNEY PROTEST [19 JULY 2013]
- News
National Indigenous Times: Traditional Owners stand up to US miner in Sydney protest
Respect and Listen: http://www.respectandlisten.org/uploads/downloads/Protect%20Arnhem%20Lan...
NIT summary: http://www.nit.com.au/news/3132-traditional-owners-stand-up-to-us-miner-...
24 Jul 13: "Arnhem Land Traditional Owners have forced US oil and gas company Paltar to meet with them by travelling to the firm's Australian headquarters in Sydney last Friday to protest about planned mining operations by the company off the coast of their land. Five Arnhem Land Traditional Owners, Eddie Mason, Rosita Ankin, Alice Eather Williams, Elston Maxwell and Ross Brian travelled to Sydney for the protest. Until the Sydney protest Paltar had steadfastly refused to talk to the Traditional Owners about its near shore drilling plans the Traditional Owners claim threatens their food, water and Culture."
* LEFTANDCORRECT, YOUTUBE: PROTECT ARNHEM LAND FROM PALTAR PETROLEUM - SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA [19 JULY 2013]
- Video
LeftandCorrect, YouTube: Protect Arnhem Land from Paltar Petroleum - Sydney, Australia 19th July 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAeJEjp0HUA
20 Jul 13: " www.LeftAndCorrect.com
www.facebook.com/ProtectArnhemLandNT
www.facebook.com/EnvironmentCentreNT "
* RESPECT AND LISTEN: PROTECT ARNHEM LAND: BACKGROUND INFO [MOSTLY EARLY 2013]
- Background
Respect and Listen: Protect Arnhem Land: Info
http://www.respectandlisten.org/arnhem-land/protect-arnhem-land/info.html
This link includes media coverage and further info: http://www.respectandlisten.org/arnhem-land/protect-arnhem-land/info.html
* RESPECT AND LISTEN: PROTECT ARNHEM LAND: FROM THE ENVIRONMENT CENTRE NT: MAPS AND LETTERS ON PALTAR OIL EXPLORATION [2012 AND 2013]
- Maps
Respect and Listen: Protect Arnhem Land: From the Environment Centre NT: Paltar oil exploration on map
[scroll down page] http://www.respectandlisten.org/arnhem-land/protect-arnhem-land.html
- Letters and other info
Respect and Listen: Protect Arnhem Land: From the Environment Centre NT:
[scroll down page] http://www.respectandlisten.org/arnhem-land/protect-arnhem-land.html
"* Response to Paltar Petroleum's plans for oil exploration in coastal waters and estuaries of Arnhem Land - 13 April 2013 ...
* Letter of Objection to Paltar Petroleum's EPs 239 and 306 - 11 December 2012 ...
* Paltar's response to oil exploation EPA's (Exploration Permit Applications) for NT coastal waters ...
* Paltar Petroleum exploration applications for North East Arnhem Land waters - NT News 14 November 2012 ...
* Letter of Objection to Paltar Petroleum's EPs 266, 267 and 268 - 5 October 2012 ... "
See also:
Environment Centre NT Magazine - Pandanus
Shale Gas and Oil in the Territory by Stuart Blanch, Director
http://www.respectandlisten.org/uploads/downloads/Protect%20Arnhem%20Lan...
June 2013: pages 5 - 6
Environment Centre NT Magazine - Pandanus
Maningrida fights oil - The Interview Maningrida
http://www.ecnt.org/sites/default/files/PANDANUS_Dec_2012.pdf
December 2012: page 5
"Hannah Seward spoke to Helena Gulwa and Alice Diaguma Eather" from the Maningrida region.
* THE STRINGER: ARNHEM LAND TRADITIONAL OWNERS CALL FOR AN END TO FRACKING [21 MARCH 2013]
- News
The Stringer: Arnhem Land Traditional Owners call for an end to fracking
http://thestringer.com.au/arnhem-land-traditional-owners-call-for-an-end...
21 Mar 13: "Arnhem Elders and landowners are calling on the Northern Territory and Federal Governments to halt fracking in the Arnhem – on land and seas. While Traditional Owners can to some extent veto fracking on their lands, they cannot do anything to stop fracking in the sea. Milingimbi Traditional Owner Ben Marrjarra Pascoe the nearby seas are their fishing grounds and the fracking will endanger them. Paltar Petroleum is planning to frack in the Arnhem Sea. Coal seam gas exploration and the process of hydraulic fracturing have become a major concern Australia-wide - now the concerns have reached the Arnhem."
* REPORTER JANE BARDON, ABC RADIO NATIONAL BREAKFAST: CONCERN OVER FRACKING IN ARNHEM LAND [18 MARCH 2013]
- Audio
ABC Radio National Breakfast: Concern over fracking in Arnhem Land
Presented by Fran Kelly
Reporter Jane Bardon
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/concern-over-frac...
18 Mar 13: "The Indigenous landowners of Arnhem Land are calling on the Northern Territory and federal governments to ban fracking in the area by Paltar Petroleum. But while traditional owners can legally veto plans to frack on land, they have no rights over the sea. ... Over the weekend, traditional owners voiced their opposition at a meeting in Maningrida, after last week receiving Paltar’s reply to their objections to drilling and seismic exploration, and later full production using hydraulic fracturing. Addressing the meeting, one of Arnhem Land’s traditional owners Eddie Mason called on locals not to cooperate with Paltar."
* JANE BARDON, ABC RURAL: TRADITIONAL OWNERS BURN ARNHEM LAND FRACKING PLAN [18 MARCH 2013]
- News
ABC Rural: Traditional Owners burn Arnhem Land fracking plan
http://www.abc.net.au/site-archive/rural/content/2013/s3718048.htm
18 Mar 13: "Arnhem Land Traditional Owners (TOs) have decided to paint a petition on bark or canvas to send to Darwin and Canberra calling on the Northern Territory and Federal Governments not to allow their country to be fracked. More than 80 per cent of the Northern Territory is now under application for unconventional oil and gas exploration, including most of Arnhem Land. While TOs can legally veto plans by Paltar Petroleum to frack their land, they have no rights over the deep sea. Elders in Maningrida, which included Eddie Mason, have held a fiery meeting to organise their opposition." By Jane Bardon
- Related News
ABC News: Traditional owners burn Arnhem Land fracking plan
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/maningrida-traditional-owners-burn...
18 Mar 13: "In Maningrida, West Arnhem Land traditional owners have held a fiery meeting to organise their opposition. Eddie Mason, a traditional owner for land near Maningrida and some of the islands off the West Arnhem Land coast, was one of the meeting organisers. He told 30 assembled traditional owners: "Just say no." "They're going to rape your land, so you've got to get strong and hold your land and say no, I'm not going to sell my land," Mr Mason said."
- Related Photo
ABC News: West Arnhem Land traditional owners burn fracking company's letter
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-18/maningrida-traditional-owners-burn...
18 Mar 13: "West Arnhem Land traditional owners burn a letter from miner Paltar Petroluem, which wants to frack parts of their land and sea."
* EMMA MURPHY, GREEN LEFT: NT SHALE GAS BOOM SET TO MEET RESISTANCE [23 FEBRUARY 2013]
- News Analysis
Green Left: NT Shale gas boom set to meet resistance
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53418
http://shalenow.com/2013/02/25/nt-shale-gas-boom-set-to-meet-resistance/
23 Feb 13: "About 120 people attended a public meeting on February 20 to discuss concerns about shale oil and gas exploration in the Northern Territory. The meeting was organised by the Environment Centre NT and brought together a broad panel of speakers - representing the breadth of concern in the community about new and controversial methods of extracting unconventional gas. Environment Centre director Stuart Blanch set the scene for the evening, outlining the scale of shale oil and gas in the NT. Mining companies want to explore about 90% of the NT. ... " By Emma Murphy, GLW author, Darwin
* MATT BRANN, ABC RURAL: ARNHEM LAND LEADER LAMENTS FAILURE TO STOP OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION [22 FEBRUARY 2013]
- News
ABC Rural: Arnhem Land leader laments failure to stop oil and gas exploration
http://www.abc.net.au/site-archive/rural/news/content/201302/s3696141.htm
22 Feb 13: "An Indigenous leader from Arnhem Land says attempts to stop oil and gas exploration in the region are failing. Eddie Mason, a Traditional Owner from Maningrida, last year formed the group Protect Arnhem Land, but says it's "achieved nothing" because governments aren't listening to Indigenous people in the region. He says mining companies are getting approvals to explore without any consultation with local communities. "They want to take the land and they want to take the sea, but if you take my land, I will lose my identity," he said." By Matt Brann
- Related News
ABC Rural: Territorians urged to lock the gate
http://www.abc.net.au/site-archive/rural/content/2013/s3695567.htm
21 Feb 13: "Eddie Mason, a Traditional Owner from Maningrida in Arnhem Land, says he doesn't have any gates to lock, but is doing all he can to make sure mining doesn't happen in his region. In October last year, Mr Mason helped to form the group 'Protect Arnhem Land', which called on the government to introduce a moratorium on all offshore oil, gas and mining exploration approvals until "there was effective consultation with every clan group in the geographic areas affected."" By Matt Brann
* CAM WALKER, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH, GREEN LEFT: OIL, GAS EXPLORATION THREATENS ARNHEM LAND [2 FEBRUARY 2013]
- News Analysis
Green Left: Oil, gas exploration threatens Arnhem Land
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53213
2 Feb 13: "Protect Arnhem Land is a campaign to fight offshore exploration, mining and drilling around the entire coastline of the Northern Territory Arnhem Land region. Last August, it came to light that there are more than 40 potential petroleum exploration sites off the coast of Arnhem Land. The people living on this country had not been informed of the submission of such exploration permits nor were they aware of what mining exploration entails. Friends of the Earth (FOE) are concerned that this vitally important communication has been conveyed in a way lacking any respect, acknowledgement or understanding of these clan groupings." Cam Walker, a GLW author, a campaigns coordinator for Friends of the Earth Australia
- Related News Analysis
Friends of the Earth Australia: Protect Arnhem Land
http://foe.org.au/articles/2013-01-25/protect-arnhem-land
25 Jan 13: " ... in response to this alarming and disrespectful process so far, we have formed a group consisting of local residents of Maningrida Community including Traditional Land Owners. 'Protect Arnhem Land' (PAL) is the name of the campaign we have launched with the intention of fighting for a just process for the people of Arnhem Land in relation to the new offshore mining permits and any future oil or gas proposals. We are requesting a moratorium on all offshore oil, gas and mining exploration approvals until there is effective consultation with every Clan group in the geographic areas that are affected." Submitted by Cam Walker
* YOUTUBE: PROTECT ARNHEM LAND AWARENESS DAY [8 DECEMBER 2012]
- Video
YouTube: Protect Arnhem Land Awareness Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naKJ_eTcPxY
31 Jan 13: "Protect Arnhem Land Day organised by the Protect Arnhem Land group in Maningrida. The community came together to object to the Seabed gas and petroleum exploration plans proposed for the entire coast of the Northern Territory."
- Related News
NT News: Offshore Opposition (11 Dec 12)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=453137324744902&set=a.4363411364...
* KATRINA CHANNELLS, VIMEO: STINGRAY SISTERS: DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON... [PREVIEW, JANUARY 2013]
- Video
Katrina Channells, Vimeo: Stingray Sisters
http://vimeo.com/57988132
Jan 2013: "Documentary coming soon... "
- Related Video
Documentary: Djapa (Sisters)
http://vivamaningrida.wordpress.com/
"Having just received notice of offshore exploration for oil or gas all through Arnhem Land, they know that this will be the biggest challenge the community will ever face. Not only will the issue divide families and members of the community, the sisters believe that the impacts of exploration will destroy sacred areas including fishing grounds and could potentially end their stingray dreaming. One of the areas on the seabed exploration hit list is the exact stretch of water where their stingray story began all those years ago… "
- - -
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