Newswire

Another chilly morning in Geelong on July 27th, with 30 people coming along to join the 3 defendants in court. We had some pre-court reflections in the park opposite the court, sharing reflections of the Peace Convergence, and some inspiring words from heroes of the movement (Jesus scored a mention or 2). We then processed to court with some standing out the front, and others joining the wait inside the court.

Thanks to the Geelong activist crew, family, and Melbourne friends family and activists for joining us.

Newsletter date: 27 July 2011

Contents:
* Interview with Randa Kattan about the campaign against the expansion of Income Management to Vic, NSW, Qld and SA
* Interviews with Alistair Nicholson and Ian Viner about the current round of consultations in the NT over the Intervention
* Videos opposing Muckaty nuclear waste dump
* Upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia - 22 events
* Other Northern Territory (NT) Intervention articles
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Other articles

Refugee Action Collective Media Release July 24th 2011/> The Refugee Action Collective (Victoria) condemns the Australian government’s agreement to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia in an agreement to be signed with the Malaysian government tomorrow. We insist that arrivals by boat be processed in the Australian community. We should also accept more refugees from the camps in Malaysia, increase the quota and actually abide by it instead of deporting people who risk their lives to get here.

In the wake of the Commonwealth notices on applications for protection of public forests in the Five Forests area and Bodalla area the conservation group South East Forest Rescue today announce they have stepped up the campaign to end native forest logging on the south coast.

“We have repeatedly requested that Forests NSW listen to the community’s concerns,” said Ms Lisa Stone, spokesperson for South East Forest Rescue. “We have repeatedly requested that Forests NSW adhere to the law. This has fallen on deaf ears.”

The following message was forwarded via email by the Refugee Action Collective of Victoria announcing they had heard direct from Darwin Detention Centre of the forcible ending of the rooftop protest by asylum seekers. The email from the Detention Centre is included below:

Internet hactivists Anonymous have declared war on the NSW Department of Education and Communities, with attacks being carried out on blogs related to the maligned Carenne Public School and the publication of a video on Youtube.

In an announcement on carennetruth's blog attacked by Anonymous, Anonymous states:

Why has Anonymous decided to fight the NSW Department of Education and Communities, a Goliath while Anonymous is David?

UFO Sylvia Creek logging coup video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkkKATlak6Q

UFO Sylvia Creek logging coup is a video to raise awareness of the destruction of habitat for a rare species of possum in Sylvia Creek and planned logging of water catchment in beautiful Cement Creek, both survivors of the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009 near Melbourne Australia. Now help them survive GovCorp vandalism.

Support the Yarra Ranges Shire Ethical Paper Pledge

Support biodiversity

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

Event: Wed 27 July 2011: Melbourne, Vic
'Our Generation' Community Screening
Event details: http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/events/
Film details: http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/about-2/

Event: Thu 28 July 2011: Carlton, Melbourne, Vic
Gary Foley speaks on the history of Aboriginal resistance
Event details: http://indymedia.org.au/gary-foley-speaks-on-the-history-of-aboriginal-r...

Event: Wed 7 September 2011: Brunswick, Melbourne, Vic
Indigenous Social Justice Association:
Discussion of Justice Reinvestment

The 'Pacific Solution' didn't work, and now Australia is trying the 'Malaysian Solution'. Under the Malaysian Solution, signed on 25th July 2011, Australia is once again out-sourcing its obligation to aid and help people seeking asylum. The agreementmeans that the next 800 asylum-seekers arriving in Australia by boat will, within 72 hours of their arrival, have their bio-metric data recorded and be flown to Malaysia. In return, Australia will allow 4000 people, who have already had their application for refugee status approved by the UNHCR, to move to Australia over the next four years.