Newswire

Newsletter date: 10 May 2012

Contents:
* 'concerned Australians' gives its full support to the Yolngu Nations Assembly statement
* SNAICC
 stands 
in
 solidarity 
with
 Yolngu
 Nations
 Assembly
* St Vincent de Paul Society respectfully supports Yolngu Elders
* UCA: Federal Government should heed Yolngu voices
* Mornington IAAG stands with Yolgnu Elders in their opposition to the "Stronger Futures" legislation
* ACM Melbourne: Yolngu Nations Reject "Stronger Futures Proposed Legislation"
* ACM Sydney: Yolngu Nations Reject "Stronger Futures"

Come hear about the struggles against the NT Intervention (renamed “stronger futures”), income management and the proposed Muckaty radioactive waste dump.

Many unions have been actively involved in assisting and campaigning with communities on the “intervention” – what does the new policy mean? Help raise awareness about the impact on communities who will live under the “stronger futures” legislation.

Media release by Michael Anderson
Founder of the Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra
Goodooga, NSW, 10 May 2012

I have been contacted by the Toomelah Elders’ representative and asked to consider the situation at Toomalah in northwest New South Wales.

I have concluded that there are three central issues that confront the Aboriginal People of Toomelah, based on the discussions that I have had with representatives of the Toomelah Aboriginal community.

Recently BHP Billiton announced it proposal to expand the Olympic Dam Uranium Mine in South Australia to become the largest open pit and uranium mine in the world. Traditional owner Uncle Kevin Buzzacott and activist/musician Izzy Brown are organizing the Lizard's Revenge. On 14th July people are gathering for three days to shut down Roxby Downs which is irreversibly poisoning the land and water, contaminating its workers and spreading its deadly export to the Fukishimas of tomorrow and to war zones in the form of Depleted Uranium. As well as blockading the Lizard Festival will include solar and wind powered cinema, Theatre, Cabaret and Art installations, and over 20 musical acts.

Gerry Georgatos
If you want to know the hearts and minds of a nation, of its consciousness, of its legislators, then day and night look into our prisons.

The two century old modern day prison experiment is failing, that is if we look at the spiralling incarceration rates, adult and youth, and if we look at re-offending rates, the recidivism.

My PhD research argues that people who enter the prison experience, who are incarcerated for relatively short or long terms leave the prison experience worse than they came in.

Australians are opening their homes to asylum seekers, and GetUp members are invited to take part. Click here to find out more.

Imagine an Australia where refugees who seek our help, and have committed no crime, are not locked up for months or years. Imagine that instead, we give them a warm bed in a real home while they get started in a new life.

Click on the links for details of the events ...

Event: Sat 12 May 2012: Melbourne City, Vic
2012 Autumn Action:
Rally: Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
Remember all who have died in custody
Protest NSW police shootings
Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association
Event details: http://www.isja-msg.com/coming_events.htm
Event details: http://www.facebook.com/events/108437109276373/
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/stop-aboriginal-deaths-in-custody-2012-autumn-ac...
Event details: http://www.greenleft.org.au/events/50705

Event: 16 May 2012: Coburg, Melbourne, Vic

Newsletter date: 8 May 2012

Upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia
- 30 events from 8 May 2012

Click on the links for details of the events ...

Event: 8 May 2012: Parramatta, Sydney, NSW
Public Consultation:
National Anti-Racism Partnership Strategy
"Want to hear your thoughts on how racism
affects the community and what we should
be doing about it."
Event details: [scroll down page] http://www.humanrights.gov.au/about/events/index.html#may

Event: 4 May - 8 July 2012: Circular Quay, Sydney, NSW
Manuwangku, Under the Nuclear Cloud

Newsletter date: 8 May 2012

Contents:
* Graeme Mundine, ACM: "Stronger Futures Legislation. Points Against"
* ACBC Media Blog: Stronger futures or stolen futures - Bishops and Religious question legislation
* Video: Jeff McMullen: "Stand for Freedom" campaign against "Stronger Futures" policy
* ANTaR: Time now critical to set new path in NT
* Congress: Stop and Listen on the Intervention
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples