Newsletter date: 27 June 2015
Contents:
Adelaide Protest:
* News Analysis: The Murray Valley Standard: Adelaide rally staged to save aboriginal services
Darwin Protest:
* News Analysis: Nadia Daly, ABC News: Unions protest in Darwin against closure of Aboriginal communities
* News: 9 News: NT parliament march for indigenous rights
Melbourne Protest:
* Video: Brisbane Times: Rally against Aboriginal community closures halts traffic [Video of Melbourne protest]
* News Analysis: Tom Cowie & Timna Jacks, The Age Victoria: Rally against closure of Aboriginal communities disrupts inner city
* News: Andrew Jefferson, Monique Hore, Herald Sun: Protesters take over Melbourne bridge as Friday night commuters hit again
* News: SBS News: Melb traffic chaos in 'peaceful' protest
* Care2 Petition: Do not cut off water and power supplies to Aboriginal Communities
* Current Event: 26-27-28 June 2015: SOSBlakAustralia Third Global Call To Action - Stop the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities
* facebook: Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia: https://www.facebook.com/sosblakaustralia
* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA (and NT?)
* WGAR Background: Aboriginal Peoples and the impact of the Federal Budget
WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
- News Analysis
The Murray Valley Standard: Adelaide rally staged to save aboriginal services
http://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/story/3173646/adelaide-rally-stag...
26 Jun 15, 2.30pm: "Dozens of people travelled from the Murraylands to take part in the rally against the funding cuts to Raukkan and other aboriginal services. About 300 people marched through the streets of Adelaide on Friday against the forced closure of aboriginal communities and the funding distribution of the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). In May, The Standard reported that individual Aboriginal communities in South Australia had received less than 10 per cent of the funding they need, with most of the $4.9 billion IAS funds allocated to non-indigenous organisations. ... "
- Past Event
Respect and Listen: 3rd Call to Action: Adelaide, SA: Stop the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia
http://www.respectandlisten.org/landrights/homeland-closures/protests.html
"FRIDAY 26th June; Meeting at 12.30pm at Elder park Rotunda for a 1pm start. March through King William st to Tarndanyangga, also known as Victoria Square for speeches.
A practical way to clearly show solidarity by our presence
* to the South Australian Aboriginal Communities in dire straits as a result of being defunded by Federal Aboriginal Affairs (Prime Minister&Cabinet).
* to the Aboriginal organisations also defunded like CASM - the 40 year Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music Adelaide which has fostered so many brilliant performers. ... "
12.30pm, Friday 26 June 2015: Call to Action Adelaide
The Whole World Is Watching
#SOSBlakAustralia
- Stop the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities
https://www.facebook.com/CallToActionAdelaide
- News Analysis
ABC News: Unions protest in Darwin against closure of Aboriginal communities
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-26/union-protest-in-darwin-against-cl...
26 Jun 15, 6.40pm: "Union groups in Darwin have joined a national protest against the forced closure of Aboriginal communities. Around 100 people gathered at Darwin's Raintree Park to protest against the closures, as well as funding cuts to Indigenous organisations. Thomas Mayor from the Maritime Workers Union said the groups were also worried parts of last week's White Paper on Developing Northern Australia could undermine native title rights. ... He said the protesters were told by authorities they could not hold a march, however they did so anyway, walking down Smith Street Mall to Parliament House. ... " By Nadia Daly. Nadia reports for ABC TV, radio and online from the Northern Territory.
- News
9 News: NT parliament march for indigenous rights
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/06/26/14/02/nt-parliament-march-fo...
26 Jun 15, 3.19pm: "A rally for indigenous rights in Darwin has been told that the closure of remote communities equates to the practice during settlement of herding Aboriginal people towards a poisoned waterhole. More than 100 people rallied on Friday in the CBD to protest elements of the newly released white paper on northern development, ... He [Anthony Ah Kit] said people living in remote communities were protected from some of the dangers and vices in towns and cities, and were some of the healthiest Indigenous people in the country. ... " AAP
- Video
Brisbane Times: Rally against Aboriginal community closures halts traffic [Video of Melbourne protest]
http://media.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national-news/rally-against-abori...
"About a thousand protestors have blocked Swan Street Bridge during Friday peak hour traffic demanding their communities not be closed."
- News Analysis
The Age Victoria: Rally against closure of Aboriginal communities disrupts inner city
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/rally-against-closure-of-aboriginal-co...
26 Jun 15, 7.06pm: " ... More than 1000 protesters blocked the busy intersection at Flinders Street and Swanston Street, after earlier stopping on Swan Street bridge. ... Indigenous activist, Rieo Ellis, said the loss of indigenous communities in WA would be disastrous for the people: "When you haven't got a homeland or place to go, you lose your identity,and personality and you become sick. Where are these communities going to go?" ... Melbourne organiser of the protest, Meriki Onus, said ... "Aboriginal people in Victoria are standing up against all Aboriginal dispossession. It's our responsibility because nobody else will," she said." Tom Cowie and Timna Jacks
- News
Herald Sun: Protesters take over Melbourne bridge as Friday night commuters hit again
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/protesters-take-over-melbourne...
26 Jun 15, 7.39pm: "A KEY Melbourne bridge was hijacked at the height of a city protest that forcing frustrated commuters to face another Friday night of traffic chaos. Up to 1000 protesters marching against the forced closure of Aboriginal communities in WA ... occupied the busy Swan St bridge. ... After originally announcing they planned to protest on the steps of Flinders St Station before moving to Federation Square, protest organisers surprised police by marching to the bridge. A large police presence, including several mounted police, escorted the protest as it slowly snaked along St Kilda Rd and Alexandria Gardens. ... " Andrew Jefferson, Monique Hore, Herald Sun
- News
SBS News: Melb traffic chaos in 'peaceful' protest
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/06/26/melb-traffic-chaos-peacefu...
26 Jun 15, 7.26pm: " ... The Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, who hosted the event, say protests around the country will send a message to the government that they have a right to stay on their homelands. "We have a right to stay on our homelands. We have a right to practise our culture and we have a responsibility to stand up for our brothers and sisters impacted by racist policies, particularly in WA, SA and NT," their webpage says. ... " AAP
- Petition
Care2 Petition: Do not cut off water and power supplies to Aboriginal Communities
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/913/806/727/do-not-cut-off-water-and-powe...
author: Lizzie Callaghan
target: Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott
"The Australian Federal Government is considering cutting off the supplies of water and power of up to 200 indigenous communities, claiming they cannot afford these basic human rights for their indigenous peoples. ... Rodney Dillon gave the following statement: "It would be a complete culture shock, a complete mental shock," Dillon said. "This is their homeland. It's where they belong it's where they are proud. They are the keepers of the land. Some might stay and die on the land. The older individuals won't manage it - it might kill them." ... Rodney Dillon, however, has said that no consultation has taken place. Dillon also stated, "They would be moved to very poor conditions. They're frightened and scared and they speak a different language. Now they're all possibly going to be moved into slums and shanty towns in the city. ... "
- Current Event
26-27-28 June 2015: SOSBlakAustralia Third Global Call To Action - Stop the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities
https://www.facebook.com/events/434149830098436/
"With Aboriginal communities, culture and land under the threat of forced closures, we are calling on all communities, friends and allies around the world to stand together as one on June 26, 27 and 28. Local event information will be published as soon as it comes to hand, but for now please invite all of your friends and let's make history together. We can win when we unite! Campaign website: http://www.sosblakaustralia.com/ Colin Barnett and Tony Abbott are jeopardising the worlds oldest living cultures, dating back 60,000 years and it's time that we speak in one voice to say "No More!" ... "
Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in Australia, facebook
https://www.facebook.com/sosblakaustralia
"1. Join protests in your area on 26-27-28 June and RSVP at https://www.facebook.com/events/434149830098436/?ref=98
2. Raise your voice and help to promote and build the event via social media. Invite friends, family, media contacts.
3. Make a financial contribution to the campaign. Every amount, large or small, helps. www.sosblakaustralia.com
4. Follow and share content from this and pages like those listed above. The mainstream media are doing their best to ignore us, so we need to serve each other with information as much as possible.
5. Ask sympathetic prominent people (actors, artists, sports people) to show their support by way of a photo, statement, video or speech.
6. Educate yourself on what is happening in WA, South Australia, in Redfern and other places, but think critically about information coming from the mainstream media. If unsure, talk to people involved in grassroots campaigns. ... "
- Background
WGAR Background: Aboriginal Peoples and the impact of the Federal Budget
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-aboriginal-peoples-a...
(last updated: 26 June 2015)
WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA (and NT?)
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/08/background-plans-to-close-aboriginal...
(last updated: 26 June 2015)
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
About WGAR News:
https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:
* The Freedom Summit's National Freedom Movement;
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), [and Northern Territory (NT)?];
* Treaties with Aboriginal Sovereign Nations of Australia;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and the Aboriginal tent embassies;
* Justice Reinvestment, Aboriginal imprisonment and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody;
* Aboriginal land rights and mining;
* Suicide and self-harm in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities;
* Removal of Aboriginal children and the continuing Stolen Generation;
* Aboriginal peoples and the impact of the Australian Federal Budget;
* Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' gives priority to grassroots Aboriginal voices and grassroots voices in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples' rights.
The role of 'WGAR News' is to facilitate the voices of others, and as such, 'WGAR News' rarely writes its own articles.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources.
These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
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Comments
Photographs by Fernando M. Gonçalves on Adelaide Protest
26 June 2015
STOP the forced closure of Aboriginal Communities
Adelaide, South Australia
photographs by Fernando M. Gonçalves
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.701198860026657.1073741895.100...