Newsletter date: 15 July 2013
Contents:
* Kathy Marks, The New Zealand Herald: Rudd hails 'Aboriginal Magna Carta'
* Stefan Armbruster, SBS Radionews: Where NAIDOC came from ... 75 years ago
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: 1,200 attend NAIDOC Ball - but there is justice yet to be done
See:
WGAR News: NAIDOC Week: Still Supporting Yolngu in Their Fight for Rights: 'concerned Australians' (8 Jul 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/08/wgar-news-naidoc-week-still-supportin...
WGAR News: Land rights are empty, Yolngu elder tells Rudd on bark petition anniversary: Oliver Laughland, The Guardian UK (14 Jul 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/07/14/wgar-news-land-rights-are-empty-yolng...
* KATHY MARKS, THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD: RUDD HAILS 'ABORIGINAL MAGNA CARTA'
- News
The New Zealand Herald: Rudd hails 'Aboriginal Magna Carta'
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10896466
11 Jul 13: "Wali Wunnunmurra, 17 at the time, and one of the few signatories still alive, told ABC radio this week: "Minerals to Aboriginal people at that time was a foreign idea. The old people saw them as pinching our land while they were digging for minerals, taking away land from us - something very, very serious in Aboriginal culture." ... At yesterday's ceremony, Rudd said: "These bark petitions present a bridge between two ancient and noble traditions. Eight hundred years ago, we had Magna Carta; 800 years later, the Yirrkala bark petitions ... both an assertion of rights against the Crown and both therefore profound symbols of justice for all peoples everywhere."" By Kathy Marks
- Related News
The West: Australian PM vows referendum to recognise Aboriginals
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17945037/australian-pm-vow...
10 Jul 13: "SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday used the 50th anniversary of the indigenous land rights movement to pledge a referendum on recognising the country's Aborigines in the constitution if Labor is re-elected. His predecessor Julia Gillard shelved a plan to hold a vote this parliamentary term, citing low public support, but Rudd made clear that the recognition of Aboriginal people as the country's first inhabitants was a priority. "I therefore, as prime minister, want to see this matter brought to the people of Australia by referendum within two years ... " AFP
- Related Video
ABC News: Yirrkala, 50 years on: Kevin Rudd flags fresh push on Indigenous constitutional recognition
By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-10/rudd-abbott-swap-blame-over-indige...
10 Jul 13: "Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he would push to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution in the next term if re-elected. The debate over Indigenous recognition has been revived today by the 50th anniversary of the Yirrkala bark petitions, which paved the way for the Indigenous land rights movement. Today Mr Rudd, who has travelled to Arnhem Land to attend the celebrations at Yirrkala, said he wanted to work with the Opposition to agree on an appropriate question to put to voters. Mr Rudd's predecessor Julia Gillard shelved a pledge to hold a referendum this parliamentary term, ... " By Emma Griffiths, ABC News Online's chief political correspondent
SBS World News: PM Rudd marks 50th year of land rights
Source: AAP
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1787566/PM-Rudd-marks-50th-year-of-la...
10 Jul 13: "Two petitions which triggered the land rights movement have been celebrated at an event attended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Arnhem Land. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has pledged a referendum to recognise Aboriginal people in the Australian constitution within two years if Labor is re-elected. Speaking at an event in Arnhem Land to mark the 50th anniversary of the Yirrkala petitions, Mr Rudd said such recognition was vital for reconciliation. "I therefore as prime minister want to see this matter brought to the people of Australia by referendum within two years ... " he said."
- Related Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: A New Democracy
http://thestringer.com.au/a-new-democracy/
10 Jul 13: "Imagine a country where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised as the sovereign owners of lands they have lived on for sixty thousand years or more. Imagine the freedom to be yourself, culturally, spiritually, linguistically, regardless of your age, gender, colour or ethnic origin. Imagine a Constitution that enshrines these human rights and upholds all of our international legal obligations. Imagine a constitutional prohibition on discrimination on the basis of race, colour, religion, ethnic or national origin. Imagine a positive mandate in that Constitution ... " By Jeff McMullen
Crikey: NAIDOC week: f-ck the festivities, let’s talk politics
http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/07/11/naidoc-week-f-ck-the-festivities-let...
11 Jul 13: "The rela meaning of NAIDOC week is in examining the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders still don’t have full Constitutional recognition, writes Kamilaroi woman @TheKooriWoman. When you remove all the lovely flowery talk of celebrations of history, achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the festiveness of all walks of life enjoying and participating in Aboriginal culture, you are left with the bare bones of what NAIDOC week is really about. This week is about the people that came before us, ... " By Kamilaroi woman @TheKooriWoman
- Related Media Release
Greens Senator Rachel Siewert: Reflecting on 50 years of land rights activism since the tabling of Bark Petitions
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/reflecting...
10 Jul 13: "Reflecting on 50 years of land rights activism since the tabling of Bark Petitions, the Australian Greens look forward to the next phase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Constitutional recognition.
This year's NAIDOC Week theme, 'We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963', not only recognises the land rights campaign of the Yolungu people and but also emphasises the importance of the ongoing campaign to build support for Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
"As we reflect on this first recognition, we are also looking ahead to the future referendum on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution," said Australian Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues - Senator Rachel Siewert. ... "
- Related Audio
National Indigenous Radio Service: Rudd gives referendum timeframe
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29539/Rudd-gives-referendum-tim...
11 Jul 13: "The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has outlined his timeframe for a referendum to recognise First Nations Australians in the nation's Constitution."
SBS Radionews: Rudd & Abbott back Indigenous referendum plan
By Thea Cowie
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/276630/Rudd-Ab...
10 Jul 13: "The PM is being accused of playing politics on the issue of constitutional recognition of indigenous people. ... Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has used his visit to the Northern Territory to re-state his support for the proposed constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians. But in doing so, he's been accused of playing politics, by calling for opposition backing for an issue that already had bipartisan support. Mr Rudd was in the Territory to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Yirrkala Bark Petitions which were sent from Arnhem Land's Yolgnu people to the federal government in 1963. Thea Cowie reports."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Constitutional recognition a 'political football'
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29541/Constitutional-recognitio...
11 Jul 13: "The Australian Greens say the political stoush between the major parties on the timeliness of Constitution recognition is taking away from the matter itself. ... Greens Senator Rachel Siewart: "
National Indigenous Radio Service: Political Football
By Michelle Tuahine
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29547/Political-Football.html
11 Jul 13: "Both major parties are accusing each other of stalling the process for constitutional recognition of our people."
National Indigenous Radio Service: Rudd hindering recognition debate: Brandis
http://www.nirs.org.au/blog/NEWS/article/29543/Rudd-hindering-recognitio...
11 Jul 13: "The Federal Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis says the Prime Minister is clouding the debate about recognition of our people in the Constitution."
- Related News
The Australian: Kevin Rudd misfires on indigenous recognition referendum
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/kevin-rudd-m...
11 Jul 13: "KEVIN Rudd is under fire for politicising the recognition of indigenous people in the Constitution, with the Coalition accusing him of "calculated and dishonest" motives that could place at risk the success of a referendum. Senior Liberal frontbencher George Brandis unleashed on the Prime Minister last night, saying he was engaging in "double-speak" after Mr Rudd accused Tony Abbott of stalling on the referendum as the two sides traded barbs over their commitment to Aboriginal recognition." Stefanie Balogh and Christian Kerr
See:
WGAR News: "Why only a 'sovereign treaty' can provide justice in constitution reform" Michael Anderson (2 Jul 12)
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/07/02/wgar-news-why-only-a-sovereign-treaty...
* STEFAN ARMBRUSTER, SBS RADIONEWS: WHERE NAIDOC CAME FROM ... 75 YEARS AGO
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Where NAIDOC came from ... 75 years ago
By Stefan Armbruster
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/276368/Where-N...
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1787202/Where-NAIDOC-came-from-75-yea...
9 Jul 13: " As NAIDOC Week celebrations get underway around the country, 2013 also marks the 75th anniversary of the declaration of January the 26th as a Day of Mourning. In 1938, a congress of Aboriginal people met in Sydney to demand equality and an end to celebrations marking the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. From that meeting evolved the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee, or NAIDOC, which has, today, expanded its observances from a day to a week. Stefan Armbruster reports on the origins of this celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander culture."
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: 1,200 ATTEND NAIDOC BALL - BUT THERE IS JUSTICE YET TO BE DONE
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: 1,200 attend NAIDOC Ball - but there is justice yet to be done
http://thestringer.com.au/1200-attend-naidoc-ball-but-there-is-justice-s...
14 Jul 13: "Ten Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were honoured for their contributions during the National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee’s (NAIDOC) week at the 2013 awards and evening ball in Perth last Friday - 1200 people attended, filling the ballroom of the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. ... Ms Eattes paid tribute to all those who struggled for the right to have an Observance week, to have what is now NAIDOC "I remember all those years ago when we marched through the streets calling for a NAIDOC and to remember our peoples and their struggles ... " Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
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