Newswire

ray jackson, president, indigenous social justice association

i am reliably informed that an aboriginal inmate, name not known, was found deceased in his cell this morning. his age was given as 36 years old.

the gaol governor at ivanhoe has stated the inmate died by natural causes. such terminology generally hides a multiplicity of concerns.

his cell-mate is said to have stated that his mate complained of becoming all sweaty and cold and had pains in his right arm. whether assistance had been sought during the evening is not known.

Friends of the Earth have accused Xstrata of using the Rudd Government's Resource Profits Tax as a scapegoat to cover up for their own poor planning with regard to the Wandoan coal project that has now been placed on hold.

By Survival International
June 2, 2010

Tribal rights organization Survival International has called for an urgent investigation into the increased violence against tribal peoples in the state of Odisha, India. Police have fired into crowds demonstrating against UK-linked company TATA, which owns Jaguar, Land Rover. Corus and Tetley. Survival is concerned that protests against FTSE-100 company Vedanta Resources in the same state will also be met with violence.

MEDIA RELEASE, 2 June, 2010 - Stand Fast, the Australian-based veterans group which is comprised of veterans and former military personnel who oppose the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, is calling on all people of conscience to protest the upcoming visit of Barack Obama in mid-June.

"Why should we welcome a war criminal?" asked Stand Fast spokesperson and East Timor veteran, Hamish Chitts. "Obama is not a force for progress, he is not a man of peace - from his first day in office he has firmly placed himself in the camp of the warmongers and war-profiteers."

By Joaquín Bustelo
www.marxmail.org

May 28, 2010

The US. drive towards war with Iran has now sparked public denunciations and recriminations between Brazil and the United States.

Speaking yesterday at the Brooking Institution, Secretary of State Clinton said the United States had "very serious" differences with Brazil on Iran, accusing President Lula of "enabling" Iran's nuclear weapons program and "buying time" for it. She said that what Lula had done "makes the world more dangerous."

By Ray Jackson, president, indigenous social justice association

(Comment on "A national hoax uncovered: The 1967 Aboriginal Referendum" published by George Villaflor in the 27 May edition of the National Indigenous Times. George is a descendant of the Wagiman peoples of the Northern Territory and has a legal background.)

an excellent article by george villaflor on the ongoing problems, still, with the 1967 referendum in this week's national indigenous times. (and not just because i have an opinion piece in it).

Protests in Australia condemned the Israeli attack on the humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza resulting in the death of 10 civilians and injuries to 30 more including to one Australian. 1500 people listened to speakers and marched through the streets of Melbourne on short notice. In Sydney a crowd of 4000 people marched and listened to speakers with passion and anger. Other protests were held in Brisbane, outside the Israeli embassy in Canberra, and 150 people attending a protest in Perth.

Related: Israel kills peace activists aboard flotilla | Israel: How to explain a massacre | AVAAZ petition | Declaration by Greek activists from Bersheeba Prison | Melbourne Photos (Flickr) | Melbourne videos (youtube) 1, 2 | Melbourne Protests

By Survival International

Kalahari Bushmen are taking the government of Botswana to court over its refusal to allow them access to a water borehole on their land.

The case is due to be heard at Botswana’s High Court in Lobatse on 9 June 2010.

When the government evicted the Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in 2002, it capped the borehole, the only source of water for the Bushman communities in the Reserve.

Six Greeks have been released by Israel and have returned to Athens. A press conference has just ended where they revealed the details of their treatment by the IDF and the condition of the other passengers on two boats, Sfendoni and Eleftheri Mesogeio. A transcription of the press release will follow in the following hours.
For ongoing events see digital camera:

Greek Site:
http://digitalship.shiptogaza.gr/