Newsletter date: 5 August 2013
Contents:
* CAAMA Radio interviews Penny Phillips and Lauren Mellor: Federal minister visits Muckaty Station
* Tennant & District Times: Federal Minister visits Muckaty
* Caddie Brain, ABC Rural: Federal Minister visits Muckaty Station
* Tracker: Abandon nuke dump proposal, NT elders urge
* 3CR interview with Dianne Stokes, Lizzie O'Shea and Nat Wasley: Same dump, different Minister. Keeping Muckaty nuclear free
* Dave Sweeney, The Guardian: Plan to use Aboriginal land as a nuclear waste dump is flawed and misguided
* NT News: Nova happy to spoil the party [Opposition to the Muckaty nuclear waste dump]
* Background to the proposed Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Northern Land Council (NLC): NLC welcomes decision on Bootu Creek [Desecration of a sacred site]
* Bridie Jabour, The Guardian: Mining company fined $150k for desecrating Aboriginal sacred site
* Tracker: NT miners guilty of Aboriginal desecration
* Central Land Council (CLC): NT must block oil and gas exploration in Watarrka National Park
* Nicole Watson, Tracker: Mining the truth
* German Language: Artikel fuer Amnesty International Rundbrief: Artikel von Jeff McMullen: The Way Ahead: The new land grab
* Let's Talk's Karen Dorante interviews Marianne Mackay, Resident of the Nyoongar Tent Embassy in Perth
* Background to the Nyoongar Tent Embassy, Heirisson Island (Matagarup), Perth, WA
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies
* CAAMA RADIO INTERVIEWS PENNY PHILLIPS AND LAUREN MELLOR: FEDERAL MINISTER VISITS MUCKATY STATION
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association: Federal minister visits Muckaty Station
http://caama.com.au/federal-minister-visits-muckaty-station
2 Aug 13: "Yesterday, Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Gary Gray met with Traditional Owners at the proposed nuclear waste facility at Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek. This is the first time a federal minister has visited the site and met with Traditional Owners at Muckaty. Traditional Owner Penny Phillips welcomed the minister’s visit, but says the people were not invited to the meeting between the minister and Northern Land Council. ... Listen below to the extended comments from Penny Phillips and Lauren Mellor."
- Related Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/am-2-08.mp3
2 Aug 13: "Opponents of a proposed national nuclear waste facility at Muckaty Station, near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, say that a meeting between Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Gary Gray and traditional owners of the site is a significant departure from that of the previous Minister Martin Ferguson."
* TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES: FEDERAL MINISTER VISITS MUCKATY
- News
Tennant & District Times: Federal Minister visits Muckaty
http://www.tennantcreektimes.com.au/story/1679345/federal-minister-visit...
2 Aug 13: "THE Federal Minister for Resources and Energy is in Tennant Creek today to meet with members of the Muckaty land trust. Gary Gray visited the site of the proposed nuclear waste dump, 120 kilometres north of town, yesterday. Mr Gray, who was in the Territory for Gove Refinery talks earlier this week, made good on a promise he made to Muckaty traditional owner, Penny Phillips, when she met him in Canberra last month. The visit was the first time a Minister with the responsible portfolio had ever been to the site since it was controversially nominated by the Northern Land Council six years ago."
* CADDIE BRAIN, ABC RURAL: FEDERAL MINISTER VISITS MUCKATY STATION
- News
ABC Rural: Federal Minister visits Muckaty Station
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/muckaty-resources-minister/4857690
1 Aug 13: "Penny Phillips, who says she is a Traditional Owner from the Wirntulki group, says the community is excited that a minister has finally accepted their invitation. "It's really nice for people to meet the minister, and let him know that we're against the nuclear waste dump there," she said. "[We're against it] for safety reasons, there's tremors here and community who lives here. "Our people fought really hard for that land." Ms Phillips says she recently travelled more than three days to Canberra to meet Mr Gray and invite him to visit Muckaty Station." Caddie Brain, ABC's Rural Reporter in Alice Springs
* TRACKER: ABANDON NUKE DUMP PROPOSAL, NT ELDERS URGE
- News
newsTracker: Abandon nuke dump proposal, NT elders urge
Tracker: http://tracker.org.au/2013/08/abandon-nuke-dump-proposal-nt-elders-urge/
SBS: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1795209/NT-elders-urge-nuke-dump-to-b...
2 Aug 13: "NT: Traditional owners opposing a proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory have pleaded with the federal resources minister to scuttle the deal. The federal government wants to build a national radioactive waste dump about 110km north of Tennant Creek. Some indigenous groups are challenging the plan in the Federal Court. Minister Gary Gray met with about 40 Aboriginal people against the proposed waste site on Thursday. Dianne Stokes, an elder with the Yapa Yapa people from Muckaty Station, told him they don’t want waste at Muckaty." AAP
* 3CR INTERVIEW WITH DIANNE STOKES, LIZZIE O'SHEA AND NAT WASLEY: SAME DUMP, DIFFERENT MINISTER. KEEPING MUCKATY NUCLEAR FREE
- Audio Interview
3CR Community Radio: Radioactive Show 27.07.2013
Same dump, different Minister. Keeping Muckaty nuclear free
http://www.3cr.org.au/radioactive/podcast/radioactive-show-27072013
27 Jul 13: "Dumping radioactive waste on a remote Aboriginal community is no solution to the ongoing problem: what to do with radioactive waste? We speak with Dianne Stokes (Muckaty Traditional Owner), Lizzie O’Shea (solicitor for the Traditional Owners contesting the dump) and Nat Wasley (Beyond Nuclear Initiative), with music from Actual Factual and Kylie Sambo."
* DAVE SWEENEY, THE GUARDIAN: PLAN TO USE ABORIGINAL LAND AS A NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP IS FLAWED AND MISGUIDED
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Plan to use Aboriginal land as a nuclear waste dump is flawed and misguided
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/31/muckaty-aboriginal-...
31 Jul 13: "Radioactive waste management is difficult, but secretive deals made without Aboriginal Traditional Owners' full consent are even more worrying. A transparent debate is needed ... This week, federal resource minister Gary Gray is talking radioactive waste with Aboriginal people in remote central Australia. ... Now Gray is back to talk with the NLC about a second site nomination on Muckaty. Unfortunately the new plan appears to follow the old pattern of secrecy, exclusion and contest." Dave Sweeney, the Australian Conservation Foundation's nuclear free campaigner
* NT NEWS: NOVA HAPPY TO SPOIL THE PARTY [OPPOSITION TO THE MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP]
- News
NT News: Nova happy to spoil the party
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2013/08/01/323458_ntnews.html
1 Aug 13: "LABOR'S "captain's pick'' Senate candidate Nova Peris said she would have crossed the floor to oppose the Muckaty nuclear waste dump - and would vote against her party if she felt strongly about other issues. Ms Peris said the Muckaty nuclear waste dump - planned to be built near Tennant Creek - was one area where she would go against Labor Party policy. "I met with the anti-nuclear campaign people and I also met with the NT environment mob, and I have met with the Tennant Creek residents, I have met with the unions and I have met with three of the traditional owner groups,'' Ms Peris told the NT News." Xavier la Canna
* BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:
Last updated: 23 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-proposed-muckaty-nu...
* NORTHERN LAND COUNCIL (NLC): NLC WELCOMES DECISION ON BOOTU CREEK [DESECRATION OF A SACRED SITE]
- Media Release
Northern Land Council (NLC): NLC welcomes decision on Bootu Creek
http://www.nlc.org.au/media-releases/article/nlc-welcomes-decision-on-bo...
2 Aug 13: "THE Northern Land Council (NLC) welcomes today’s decision by the Darwin Magistrates Court in finding OM Manganese (OMM) guilty of desecrating a sacred site.
OMM was found guilty by Magistrate Sue Oliver of one count of desecrating and one count of damaging the Two Women Sacred Site that was within the boundaries of its Bootu Creek manganese mine 170km north of Tennant Creek, and was fined $150,000.
NLC Chairman, Wali Wunungmurra, said protecting and respecting sacred sites should be a priority.
Mr Wunungmurra also expressed his sympathy with the Traditional Owners at the destruction of the sacred site.
"With the Traditional Owners we are upset at the loss of this site of significance. But with them I am also happy that this decision went the way it did," Mr Wunungmurra said today. ... "
* BRIDIE JABOUR, THE GUARDIAN: MINING COMPANY FINED $150K FOR DESECRATING ABORIGINAL SITE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Guardian: Mining company fined $150k for desecrating Aboriginal sacred site
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/02/mining-company-fined-aborig...
2 Aug 13: "OM Holdings apologises after being found guilty in what custodians are calling a landmark ruling ... A mining company has been fined $150,000 for desecrating and damaging an Aboriginal sacred site in what the custodians are describing as a landmark ruling. OM Holdings, a subsidiary of OM Ltd, were found guilty of desecrating the Booto Creek Aboriginal sacred site known as Two Women Sitting Down in the first contested prosecution of its kind in Australia. The case was brought to Darwin magistrates court by the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (Aapa) ... " Bridie Jabour and agencies. Bridie Jabour is a reporter for Guardian Australia
* TRACKER: NT MINERS GUILTY OF ABORIGINAL DESECRATION
- News
newsTracker: NT miners guilty of Aboriginal desecration
http://tracker.org.au/2013/08/nt-miners-guilty-of-aboriginal-desecration/
2 Aug 13: "NT: A mining company has been convicted and fined over the desecration of an Aboriginal sacred site in the Northern Territory in a historic ruling. Magistrate Sue Oliver on Friday found that OM (Manganese) Ltd damaged and desecrated a sacred site known in English as Two Women Sitting Down, at Bootu Creek, about 170km north of Tennant Creek. It is the first time a charge of desecration has been contested and won in Australia." AAP
- Related Video
SBS World News: NT miners fined for desecrating Aboriginal site
Source: AAP
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1795581/NT-miners-fined-for-desecrati...
2 Aug 13
* CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL (CLC): NT MUST BLOCK OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN WATARRKA NATIONAL PARK
- Media Release
Central Land Council (CLC): NT must block oil and gas exploration in Watarrka National Park
http://www.clc.org.au/media-releases/article/nt-must-block-oil-and-gas-e...
31 Jul 13: "Traditional owners of Watarrka National Park are strongly opposed to an application by Palatine Energy Pty Ltd to begin oil and gas exploration in the Park and are demanding that the NT Cabinet block it.
The traditional owners told Central Land Council staff at a meeting in March this year that they are concerned about the impacts on the cultural values and flora and fauna of the Park and are strongly and unconditionally opposed to any exploration in the Park.
Traditional owners have a duty to protect the unique values of the Park under joint management legislation and through traditional cultural obligations. A large number of groups are associated with the Park and the traditional owners have obligations to them as well.
The Park hosts many significant cultural sites, is a renowned tourist destination and supports a rich and diverse number of species and habitats. A number of threatened species are found there also.
The traditional owners also said they had worked hard to get small tourist businesses off the ground and the Park provided jobs and opportunities for their young people. ... "
* NICOLE WATSON, TRACKER: MINING THE TRUTH
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: Mining the truth
http://tracker.org.au/2013/07/mining-the-truth/
29 Jul 13: "Election campaigns bring out the worst aspects of our character. Voters are encouraged to focus on our hip-pockets, and we are bombarded with imagery of politicians surrounding themselves with photogenic, young families. Tough questions concerning our future are usually ignored. This poverty of debate has been on my mind since I finished reading Paul Cleary’s disturbing new book, Mine-Field: The Dark Side of Australia’s Resources Rush." By Nicole Watson, a Murri lawyer and researcher, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney
* GERMAN LANGUAGE: ARTIKEL FUER AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL RUNDBRIEF: ARTIKEL VON JEFF MCMULLEN: THE WAY AHEAD: THE NEW LAND GRAB
- Analysis / Opinion
Artikel fuer Amnesty International Rundbrief: Artikel von Jeff McMullen: THE WAY AHEAD: The new land grab
Respect and Listen: [scroll down page] http://www.respectandlisten.org/uploads/downloads/NT_Intervention/NT-Int...
Indymedia Australia: [scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2013/08/01/artikel-fuer-amnesty-international-ru...
Juli 2013: "Dieser hervorragende Artikel beschreibt die aktuelle Lage der Industrialisierung, das Erforschen neuer Mineralien, die historische, ideologische Denkweise der Vorgehensweise/Ideologien die dahinter stecken."
"…Die Wandlung der Armut der Ureinwohner haengt ohne Zweifel von der fairen Erschliessung und dem Teilen der Reichtuemer, die auf ihren Gebieten gefunden werden, ab. Seit der Ankunft der Europaer in Australien ist dies nie geschehen. Der Kampf um Ureinwohnerland und Rechte tritt jetzt in eine neue Phase ein, da aggressives globales Inverkehrbringen von Reichtuemern fuer eine schnell wachsende Bevoelkerung auesserst wichtig ist, einschliesslich Wasser, Essen, Mineralien, Energie und das Land selbst…."
Tracker: http://tracker.org.au/2013/06/the-way-ahead-the-new-land-grab-2/
* LET'S TALK'S KAREN DORANTE INTERVIEWS MARIANNE MACKAY, RESIDENT OF THE NYOONGAR TENT EMBASSY IN PERTH
- Audio Interview
Indigenous radio station 98.9FM Brisbane:
Let's Talk - Marianne Mackay
http://www.989fm.com.au/category/podcasts/lets-talk/
25 Jul 13: "Resident of the Nyoongar Tent Embassy in Perth"
Listen to this interview on-line:
http://www.989fm.com.au/podcasts/lets-talk/marianne-mackay/
- Related Video
SBS World News: Mercedes apologises to Noongar people
Source: Malarndirri McCarthy, NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1795189/Mercedes-apologises-to-Noonga...
1 Aug 13: "The head of Mercedes Benz in Australia has travelled to Western Australia's iconic Wave Rock, to apologise for a stunt that upset the site's traditional owners the Noongar people. The car company filmed a promotional video earlier in the year, featuring a BMX rider on the rock. Protocols will be put in place to prevent a repeat of the controversy."
* BACKGROUND TO THE NYOONGAR TENT EMBASSY, HEIRISSON ISLAND (MATAGARUP), PERTH, WA
Last updated: 23 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/01/02/nyoongar-tent-embassy-heirisson-islan...
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT AND THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSIES:
Last updated: 23 July 2013
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
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 the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* 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 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.
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.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)