Newsletter date: 24 August 2012
Contents:
* Bryan Andy, AIA: What’s a group of Aboriginal elders and community leaders doing in Canberra this week?
* SBS: Indigenous rents bungled under NT Intervention
* CAAMA: Amnesty’s Monica Morgan discusses Stronger Futures Bill
* Speech by Greens NSW MP Cate Faehrmann: Northern Territory Intervention
* More 'Stronger Futures' Legislation related articles
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* SBS World News: Paying the Price: The battle for James Price Point
* Broome Community No Gas Campaign: Original protester arrested at Walmadan Embassy
* Greens Rachel Siewert: Senate misses chance to protect Kimberley dinosaur prints
* Background to the Walmadan Tent Embassy, James Price Point, north of Broome, Kimberley Region, WA
* Craig Longman: Opal fuel... It’s time to finish the job
* Congress Extractive Industries Forum Statement
* Background to National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples
* Greens (WA): BHP dumps Olympic Dam plan - Uranium industry drifts towards extinction
* Background to expansion of Olympic Dam mine challenge
* The Wire: From little things big things grow: 46 years since the Gurindji Walk-Off
* NIRS: Michael Anderson: Sovereignty must stay on agenda
* Sovereign Union: All charges against Musgrave fire defenders dropped on Aboriginal Sovereignty Day
* Background to the Aboriginal sovereignty movement
* Other articles
* BRYAN ANDY, AIA: WHAT'S A GROUP OF ABORIGINAL ELDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS DOING IN CANBERRA THIS WEEK?
- News
Amnesty International Australia: What’s a group of Aboriginal elders and community leaders doing in Canberra this week?
http://www.amnesty.org.au/indigenous-rights/comments/29540/?utm_medium=t...
20 Aug 12: "A group of us - Amnesty staff, and a delegation of Aboriginal elders and community leaders - have left our homes and homelands to find ourselves in chilly Canberra. We're here to speak directly to politicians in Canberra about our concerns with Stronger Futures, and the treatment of Aboriginal Peoples in the Northern Territory. Indeed, it's a very important week for all of us. We've brought together a group of Aboriginal elders and community leaders from four homelands across the Northern Territory. ... " By Bryan Andy, Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights Education Coordinator with the Indigenous Peoples Rights Team, a Yorta Yorta man from Cummeragunja (NSW)
Amnesty International Australia: Parliamentarians to hear of NT Aboriginal homelands neglect continuing
http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/29560/
21 Aug 12: "Aboriginal leaders from the Northern Territory are voicing their concerns about government policy on homelands as they meet with parliamentarians in Canberra this week. A delegation of Aboriginal homelands residents from Utopia and Urapunga have made the journey to Canberra one year on from the launch of Amnesty International’s report, The land holds us: Aboriginal Peoples’ rights to traditional lands in the Northern Territory, which found that Aboriginal Peoples in the NT are essentially being stripped of their rights to remain on their ancestral lands."
* SBS: INDIGENOUS RENTS BUNGLED UNDER NT INTERVENTION
- Audio Interview
SBS: Indigenous rents bungled under NT Intervention
By Naomi Selvaratnam
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/229079/Indigen...
20 Aug 12: "The Northern Territory Ombudsman says Centrelink has wrongly deducted rent payments from some Indigenous people. ... The Northern Territory Ombudsman has called for a review of all Centrelink payments made to Indigenous Australians. Carolyn Richards says in particular, she's concerned about rent payments being wrongly deducted from some payments. Ms Richards says the problem has arisen since the federal government launched the Intervention in the Northern Territory in 2007. She told Naomi Selvaratnam some quarantining of Centrelink payments to Indigenous Territorians has been inappropriately applied under the Intervention."
* CAAMA: AMNESTY'S MONICA MORGAN DISCUSSES STRONGER FUTURES BILL
- Audio Interview
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Amnesty International’s Monica Morgan discusses Stronger Futures Bill…
http://caama.com.au/monica-morgan-discusses-stronger-futures-bill
22 Aug 12: "The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill, the legislation extending aspects of the NT Intervention for another ten years was passed through the Senate earlier this year. The peak human rights advocate body in Australia, Amnesty International had issued a statement last month, just after it was passed, saying the passing of the Stronger Futures Bill "represents Government’s blatant disregards for its humans rights obligation." Manager of Amnesty International Indigenous rights program, Monica Morgan joined Nerida Currey on the program during this time, to discuss this."
* SPEECH BY GREENS NSW MP CATE FAEHRMANN: NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION
- Speech
Greens NSW MP Cate Faehrmann: Speech: Northern Territory Intervention
http://catefaehrmann.org/2012/08/speech-northern-territory-intervention/
22 Aug 12: "The Hon. CATE FAEHRMANN [9.59 p.m.]: John Howard’s Northern Territory Emergency Response [NTER] represented the greatest threat to Aboriginal self-determination in decades, with the additional effect of further entrenching negative perceptions of Indigenous culture and society, and further stigmatising already alienated community groups. This drastic response was tenuously premised on the urgent need to address issues of child neglect borne from community dysfunction within Indigenous townships. That is a serious problem although, as Larissa Behrendt says, "This was a national emergency that was sitting neglected for over 30 years". ... "
* MORE 'STRONGER FUTURES' LEGISLATION RELATED ARTICLES:
- News
Australian: 'Trespass' threat as NT leases expire
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/trespass-threat-as-nt-l...
24 Aug 12: "FIVE years after the Northern Territory intervention, 25 Aboriginal communities are back where they started, with the federal government having failed to negotiate new leases after those imposed under the Howard government expired. Government access to the communities to provide services, conduct maintenance and collect rent is now protected only by "gentlemen's agreements" and an un-tested invocation of NT law."
ABC: Indigenous community refuses to sign land lease
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-23/amoonguna-community-refuses-to-sig...
23 Aug 12: "Residents of a Northern Territory Indigenous community are refusing to sign a Federal Government lease on their land, saying they want to take back control for themselves. Amoonguna, 15 kilometres south of Alice Springs, has been subject to a compulsory federal lease for the past five years. It was imposed under the Commonwealth's Northern Territory Intervention measures. Community spokeswoman Marie Ellis says now that the lease is ending, the community wants government workers to leave by the end of the month."
Australian: Money fails indigenous overcrowding
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/money-fails-...
21 Aug 12: "DESPITE record levels of investment in Aboriginal housing in the Top End, overcrowding has increased in some communities and infrastructure is at crisis point, according to the NT Co-ordinator-General for Remote Service Delivery Olga Havnen. Ms Havnen revealed the housing issues are bigger than the rental payment crisis gripping the Northern Territory and has called on both sides of politics to make long-term decisions beyond the housing allocations."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 21 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-stronger-futures-new-nt...
* BACKGROUND TO THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (NT) INTERVENTION:
Last updated: 1 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-northern-territory-...
* SBS WORLD NEWS: PAYING THE PRICE: THE BATTLE FOR JAMES PRICE POINT
- Videos
SBS World News: Paying the Price: The battle for James Price Point
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1684063/Paying-the-Price:-The-battle-...
20 Aug 12: "Woodside's controversial plan for a gas hub at James Price Point in the pristine Kimberley region of Western Australia has pitched Indigenous communities against each other, reports Jeannette Francis. With Woodside set to make its final decision in the first half of next year, the battle for James Price Point is heating up."
- Related News
National Indigenous Times: Brown offers a gas hub compromise
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1699-brown-offers-a-gas-hub-compromise.html
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. The former Australian Greens leader, Dr Bob Brown has called on Woodside to abandon its plans for the gas hub at James Price Point north of Broome in Western Australia and instead pipe the gas further south where the prospect of environmental damage would be much less."
National Indigenous Times: Woodside’s internal angst at Barnett’s heavy hand on gas hub deal
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1712-woodsides-internal-angst-at-barnetts-hea...
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Woodside Board directors and executive managers and some of Woodside's venture partners in the $40 billion Browse Basin LNG development proposal on Walmandan country were angry at the compulsory acquisition threats by West Australian Premier, Colin Barnett, a source within Woodside has... "
newsTracker: Gas hub to smash window to past: Greens
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/gas-hub-to-smash-window-to-past-greens/
22 Aug 12: "NATIONAL: A $34 billion gas hub earmarked for James Price Point near Broome will smash a "window to the past", the Senate has been told. Woodside Petroleum is seeking environmental approval to build the controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub in Western Australia despite strong opposition from Indigenous and environmental groups. Australian Greens senator Rachel Siewert told the upper house on Tuesday night that 130-million-year-old dinosaur prints across a 200-kilometre stretch of the Kimberley coast were under threat because of the development."
newsTracker: Browse gas rights threat 'wrong': McGowan
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/browse-gas-rights-threat-wrong-mcgowan/
22 Aug 12: "WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Premier Colin Barnett’s threat to take away the Browse joint venture’s gas rights if it doesn’t develop the project at James Price Point is outrageous, the West Australian opposition says. The WA premier on Tuesday welcomed Chevron’s departure from the Woodside-led project under an asset-swap deal with Royal Dutch Shell. He told ABC radio it was "all part of the shuffling and the re-arranging of ownership" and "good news for the development"."
* BROOME COMMUNITY NO GAS CAMPAIGN: ORIGINAL PROTESTER ARRESTED AT WALMADAN EMBASSY
- Media Release
Broome Community No Gas Campaign: Traditional Owners arrested and dragged off road as blockade continues nears James Price Point.
Sovereign Union: http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/original-protester-arrested-w...
19 Aug 12: "Today police moved in to break up a blockade camp of Traditional Owners and supporters, handing out 10 move on notices and arresting Traditional owner Janet Cox, who lay down in the middle of the road to stop Woodside's drilling equipment from passing into the work area.
One protestor was locked to the underside of a truck as it attempted to travel to the worksite. The protestor has since cut off.
A convoy of Woodside vehicles with drilling equipment was escorted by police into the compound on Saturday morning to begin extraction of 35 million litres of water from the Broome Aquifer for testing. Goolarabooloo traditional owners and supporters have been camping inside Woodside's compound, blocking the equipment from leaving the lay down area.
In a statement taken before she was arrested, Janet Cox said: "I have inherited Country from my old people, and as custodian I have my rights to stand up and protect our Native land - from bullies, selfishness and greed. ... "
* GREENS RACHEL SIEWERT: SENATE MISSES CHANCE TO PROTECT KIMBERLEY DINOSAUR PRINTS
- Media Release
Greens Rachel Siewert: Senate misses chance to protect Kimberley dinosaur prints
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-releases/senate-mis...
22 Aug 12: "The Senate has today turned its back on the opportunity to support calls for the protection of 130 million year old dinosaur footprints at James Price Point
The Liberal, Labor and National parties all refused to support the motion, which called on the Government to examine new evidence regarding the archaeological and cultural significance of the prints and to commit to undertaking a proper survey of this important, but under-explored site.
"This motion recognised the new evidence presented by Dr Steven Salisbury from the University of Queensland regarding the insufficiently documented dinosaur footprint trails right along the Dampier Peninsula coastline," Senator Siewert said today.
"This area is intersected by the proposed LNG hub at James Price Point. ...
"These footprints and trackways are part of Aboriginal culture and songcycle, which heightens the need for protection. ... ""
- Video of speech
Greens Rachel Siewert: Saving the Kimberley's dinosaur treasures
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/video/saving-kimberleys-d...
22 Aug 12: "Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert speaks about the 130 million year old dinosaur prints that are being threatened by the development of an LNG hub at James Price Point. Some of the largest dinosaurs to have walked the earth are responsible for these prints. The significance of this area is still being discovered, as shown by results released in Broome over the weekend. ... Click here for the transcript of Rachel's speech."
* BACKGROUND TO THE WALMADAN TENT EMBASSY, JAMES PRICE POINT, NORTH OF BROOME, KIMBERLEY REGION, WA
Last updated: 19 August 2012
[scroll down page] http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* CRAIG LONGMAN: OPAL FUEL... IT'S TIME TO FINISH THE JOB
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: Guest Tracker: Opal fuel... It’s time to finish the job
http://tracker.org.au/2012/08/guest-tracker-opal-fuel-its-time-to-finish...
22 Aug 12: "NATIONAL: The damage that petrol sniffing does to communities is undeniable. So why won’t governments take the next step and force suppliers to sell Opal, asks CRAIG LONGMAN*. In 2005, the federal government subsidised a roll-out of opal fuel which proved to be remarkably effective. An evaluation conducted in 2008 reported a 70 percent reduction in petrol sniffing in the subject communities (all located in remote Australia). Consequently, in a 2009 report, the Senate recommended that the stocking of opal or non-aromatic fuel should be mandatory. Yet, legally, nothing has been done." By Craig Longman, a senior researcher, Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, University of Technology, Sydney
- Related News
National Indigenous Times: Force stations to sell Opal fuel, says Central Land Council boss
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1702-force-stations-to-sell-opal-fuel-says-ce...
23 Aug 12: "A small minority of petrol stations refusing to sell non-sniffable fuel are setting back efforts to combat sniffing in Aboriginal communities, the Central Land Council has claimed. A Senate committee is now considering a Private Members Bill from the Australian Greens to make the voluntary Opal Fuel roll out in parts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and... "
* CONGRESS EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES FORUM STATEMENT:
- Statement
National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples: Congress Extractive Industries Forum Statement
http://nationalcongress.com.au/congress-extractive-industries/
21 Aug 12: "The National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (Congress) says its two-day forum will help inform an international study on extractive industries by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples.
The UN Special Rapporteur, Professor James Anaya, is being hosted by Congress while Australia.
Congress Co-Chairs Jody Broun and Les Malezer said the first day saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives from peak organisations, communities, traditional owners and NGOs come together to discuss human rights, the work of the United Nations and the relationship between these and development on Aboriginal land.
The second day will bring around 85 participants to the round table including senior members of industry and government.
"This is an important forum where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can have strong and frank input into the study and that will help establish international standards where mining occurs," said Ms Broun. ... "
* BACKGROUND TO NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST PEOPLES:
Last updated: 5 May 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/05/background-to-the-national-congress-o...
* GREENS (WA): BHP DUMPS OLYMPIC DAM PLAN - URANIUM INDUSTRY DRIFTS TOWARDS EXTINCTION
- News
Greens (WA): BHP dumps Olympic Dam plan - Uranium industry drifts towards extinction
http://wa.greens.org.au/content/bhp-dumps-olympic-dam-plan-%E2%80%93-ura...
22 Aug 12: "Australian Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said BHP's decision to axe its Olympic Dam expansion plan shows the global uranium market is in critical condition. "The nuclear industry globally is in terminal decline, contributing to the business case against the Olympic Dam expansion. "Since the Fukushima disaster, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland have announced a complete nuclear phase-out. Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, and Thailand have cancelled projects. New proposals for plants in Brazil, France, India, and the USA were cancelled," Senator Ludlam said. ... "
Greens SA: Cancellation of BHPB Mine expansion saves SA from bad deal
http://sa.greens.org.au/content/cancellation-bhpb-mine-expansion-saves-s...
22 Aug 12: "The Greens today welcomed the announcement that BHP Billiton will not be acting on its plans to expand the Olympic Dam mine, according to SA Parliamentary leader, Mark Parnell MLC. "The deal struck late last year by the SA Labor Government with BHP Billiton during the dying days of the Rann administration was bad for South Australia and this decision now gives the State a get out of jail card. "The 2011 deal was economically irresponsible, environmentally reckless and would have left South Australia as little more than "China’s quarry". ... "
- Related Audio
The Wire: SA: doom and gloom with no mining boom
Produced by Marty McCarthy
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9517
23 Aug 12: "BHP Billiton’s plan to shelve the proposed Olympic Dam expansion in South Australia has left many worried about the economic consequences for the state. Emotions ran high in Canberra today, with South Australian politicians becoming increasingly passionate during Question Time about the future of their state, including Adelaide-raised Julia Gillard. But is it actually all doom and gloom for South Australia? The Wire’s Marty McCarthy reports.
Featured in story:
* Simon O'Connor, Australian Conservation Foundation
* Michael O’Neill, Executive Director of the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies"
- Related Video
adelaidenow: BHP Billiton's $30b expansion plans for its Olympic Dam mine site have been shelved
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bhp-cancels-30-billio...
23 Aug 12: "FEDERAL Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has declared the mining boom is over, putting him at odds with Finance Minister Penny Wong, who says it has a long way to go. In the wake of BHP Billiton's decision to shelve its $30 billion expansion of Olympic Dam, Mr Ferguson told ABC Radio this morning: "You've got to understand, the resources boom is over. We've done well.""
- Related News
Australian: BHP Billiton drops Olympic Dam expansion as profit falls
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/profit-loss/bhp-billiton-drops-...
22 Aug 12: "BHP Billiton will abandon its $US30 billion expansion plan for the Olympic Dam copper/uranium project after its run of record annual profit came to an abrupt end due to the slump in commodity prices. BHP said it would look at a cheaper design of its Olympic Dam open-pit expansion and would not approve any expansion before a South Australian government indenture agreement deadline of December 15."
* BACKGROUND TO EXPANSION OF OLYMPIC DAM MINE CHALLENGE:
Last updated: 3 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/13/background-to-expansion-of-olympic-da...
* THE WIRE: FROM LITTLE THINGS BIG THINGS GROW: 46 YEARS SINCE THE GURINDJI WALK-OFF
- Audio
The Wire: From little things big things grow: 46 years since the Gurindji Walk-Off
Produced by Lisa Burns
http://www.thewire.org.au/storyDetail.aspx?ID=9514
22 Aug 12: "Tomorrow is a special day for Aboriginal people all over the country, but particularly for those from Wave Hill in the Top End. It's the 46th anniversary of the Gurindji Walk-Off, when men, women and children from Wave Hill station protested against pay inequality. It's a moment that was famously re-told in Australian songwriter Paul Kelly's song 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'. The track, along which the Walk-Off took place, had been heritage listed and is now the site of anniversary celebrations. ...
Featured in story: Brenda Croft, Senior Research Fellow, College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales"
* NIRS: MICHAEL ANDERSON: SOVEREIGNTY MUST STAY ON AGENDA
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Michael Anderson: Sovereignty must stay on agenda
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7484-michael-anderson-sovereignt...
22 Aug 12: "Aboriginal Tent Embassies throughout the country are today celebrating National Sovereignty Day. The event is to be celebrated on the 22nd of August each year on the anniversary of the 1770 landing of James Cook in the Torres Strait under the Queen’s flag. Canberra Aboriginal Tent Embassy co-founder Michael Anderson says it’s important for people to remain focused on the goal of sovereignty for Indigenous Australians. "Each one who are pushing the cause are in fact building the same knowledge base. ... ""
- Related Photos
Sovereign Union: Toomelah Sovereignty Day - 22nd August 2012
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/368
"March from Canberra Sovereign Embassy (AKA Aboriginal Tent Embassy) to Parliament House to remind Australians that the Original peoples did not cede sovereignty and that since 22nd August 1770 the invaders are illegally occupying the land."
* SOVEREIGN UNION: ALL CHARGES AGAINST MUSGRAVE FIRE DEFENDERS DROPPED ON ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY DAY
Sovereign Union: All charges against Musgrave fire defenders dropped on Aboriginal Sovereignty Day
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/content/all-charges-against-musgrave-...
"The Brisbane Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy celebrates the dropping of all charges against those arrested in Musgrave Park on May 16 attempting to stop Brisbane City Council desecrating the sacred fire. This is a victory for all Aboriginal people and our pursuit to assert our sovereignty over the land. The world's attention was drawn to Musgrave Park on May 16 this year when over 250 police forcibly removed over 60 Aboriginal people and their supporters, 35 people were arrested and charged. Those that gathered that morning were not protesting any particular issue as widely reported in the media."
* BACKGROUND TO THE ABORIGINAL SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT:
Last updated: 21 August 2012
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/22/background-to-the-aboriginal-sovereig...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- News
National Indigenous Times: WA test case for the Stolen Generations
http://www.nit.com.au/your-say.html
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1713-wa-test-case-for-the-stolen-generations....
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Nine of Donald and Sylvia Collard's 14 children were forcibly removed under Government policies of what is now known as the Stolen Generations. The Collards who have been married for more than 60 years are now leading the way in a legal test case for compensation that may well open the flood gates for litigation by thousands of victims of the Stolen Generations throughout Australia."
National Indigenous Times: Claim and counter claim as Tent Embassy and Council lock horns
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1711-claim-and-counter-claim-as-tent-embassy-...
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Another argument has broken out between representatives of the Nyoongar Tent Embassy in Perth and the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) over whether or not the Land and Sea Council had reneged on an agreement to meet with the Tent Embassy representatives to try and resolve differences over the proposed billion... "
National Indigenous Times: Rescue plan for Toomelah
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1710-rescue-plan-for-toomelah.html
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. Toomelah's residents have welcomed promises by the New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Victor Dominello to fix the community's "entrenched and complex social issues" but they warned they had "heard all the promises before" and only action would give them hope the community's problems will be addressed."
National Indigenous Times: Hands off RDA Mr Abbott
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1709-hands-off-rda-mr-abbott.html
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times Editor Stephen Hagan. Internationally renowned Human Rights Lawyer and author Dr Hannah McGlade from Perth has warned Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to keep his hands off the Racial Discrimination Act. Dr McGlade told the National Indigenous Times that the Andrew Bolt decision last year "has caused significant controversy in relation to the issue of free speech... "
National Indigenous Times: Walkatjurra Walkabout: a journey to stop uranium mining "of our land"
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1703-walkatjurra-walkabout-a-journey-to-stop-...
23 Aug 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Desert is being walked to protect Wangkatja country in a month long protest against looming uranium mining as communities step up their fight to prevent uranium mining at Yeelirrie. Yeelirrie Traditional Owner Kado Muir is... "
- Related Event
Event: 20 August to 14 September 2012: Yeelirrie-Leonora, WA
Walkatjurra Walkabout – Walking for Country
A one month walk from Yeelirrie to Leonora
" ... is a celebration of Wangkatja country, a testament to
the strength of the community who have fought to stop
uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years, and a
chance to come together to continue share our commitment to
a sustainable future without nuclear. It is a chance to
reconnect with the land, and to revive the tradition of
walking for country."
"This walk will be lead by the Walkatjurra Rangers,
in partnership with Footprints for Peace,
Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA),
the Anti Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia (ANAWA)
and the Conservation Council of Western Australia (CCWA)."
Event details: http://walkingforcountry.com/
Event details: http://www.nuclearfreefuture.com/
Event details: http://nffcampaign2011.footprintsforpeace.net/?p=69
News: http://www.nit.com.au/news/1703-walkatjurra-walkabout-a-journey-to-stop-...
- News
National Indigenous Times: Tent Embassy stalwarts join "Breakfast at Barnett’s" to deliver a message
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1698-tent-embassy-stalwarts-join-breakfast-at...
23 Aug 12: "Nyoongar Tent Embassy staked the Aboriginal flag outside the home of Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett as they demanded to hand him documents they said proved Nyoongars had never ceded sovereignty to the State. A non-Indigenous protester also scaled the front fence and locked himself on to the gate of the Premier's home. Every Friday morning there is a peaceful protest... "
National Indigenous Radio Service: Bagot residents protest Tollner's housing proposal
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7481-bagot-residents-protest-tol...
22 Aug 12: "Members of the Bagot community in Darwin have expressed disapproval of plans by the Country Liberals to turn their land into a subdivision where anyone can buy a house. The CLP's Member for Fong Lim, Dave Tollner, has committed to the plan in the lead-up to Saturday's NT elections. Mr. Tollner spelled out plans in his newsletter earlier this month to force residents of Bagot to buy a house on the land or risk having their homes handed to Territory Housing. But about 200 Bagot residents and supporters protested the proposal outside his office last week."
Koori Mail: I wanted to wave flag: Hooper
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php?page=Current+Edition
22 Aug 12: "OLYMPIC boxer Damien Hooper wanted to wave the Aboriginal flag during the Opening Ceremony of the London Games but was told point blank he’d be sent home if he did. The star light-heavyweight, who won the hearts of his people when he wore a t-shirt bearing the flag in the lead-up to his first Games fight, said he was left deeply disappointed by the Olympic rules meaning he couldn’t recognise his culture and people. Speaking with the Koori Mail from his new training base in Brisbane, the 20-year-old confirmed he had no regrets about wearing the flag T-shirt in contravention of Olympic rules. "Why would I," he said. "I’m proud of my family and my people."
Koori Mail: 'Extractive industries' a rights minefield
[scroll down page] http://www.koorimail.com/index.php
21 Aug 12: "ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander people, mining companies and government agencies have wound up a two-day meeting in Melbourne on the impact of mining and related activities on Indigenous communities. Also in attendance was United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples James Anaya, who is developing international guidelines relating to 'extractive industries', the impact of which he says has been a major source of abuse of Indigenous peoples' rights globally. National Congress of Australia's First Peoples co-chair Les Malezer says the Australian mining boom is adding pressure to relationships between Indigenous communities and industry."
Australian: Customs, language rights on the table
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/customs-language-rights...
18 Aug 12: "THE Gillard government is considering six international workplace human rights conventions, including one requiring that jail be considered as a last resort for Aboriginal offenders. The International Labour Organisation's Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (1989) also requires "due regard" be paid to indigenous customs when applying national laws and stipulates that Aboriginal children be taught to read and write in their own language as a priority. A spokesman for Employment Minister Bill Shorten confirmed the conventions were actively under consideration." By Patricia Karvelas
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
Tony Abbott says Aboriginal people shouldn’t be hassled or patronized by Government..if they are living within the law !
http://caama.com.au/tony-abbott-says-aboriginal-people-shouldnt-be-hassl...
22 Aug 12: "The Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has shared some strong thoughts about Aboriginal and Islander self development… saying he wants them to be acting responsibly but also independently and autonomously. Speaking on CAAMA Radio Mr Abott told Paul Wiles it is "exactly right" that Aboriginal people have to be involved in the decision making process!"
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You can also subscribe to our second list 'Contact WGAR' which focuses on activities and events and provides a point of contact.
To subscribe, email contactwgar@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR Contact" in the message header.
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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/