Newsletter date: 15 September 2012
Contents:
* SNAICC News: Today marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
* Les Malezer: Five Years On - The Fifth Anniversary Of The UN Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
* Australian Human Rights Commission: Declaration On Rights Of Indigenous Peoples Turns Five Years Old
* Jack Waterford: $250,000 delivered to Aboriginal families at a cost of $220,000
* Solidarity Needed for Union action against Income Management
* Tennant & District Times: Ampilatwatja refuses housing lease offer
* Background to 'Stronger Futures' new NT Intervention laws
* Background to the Northern Territory (NT) Intervention
* Walkatjurra Walkabout: Walkers celebrate end of walk with Japan nuclear phaseout
* Other articles
* SNAICC NEWS: TODAY MARKS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADOPTION OF THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
- News
SNAICC News: Today marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
http://www.snaicc.asn.au/news-events/fx-view-article.cfm?loadref=32&id=885
13 Sep 12: "The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against (Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States) and 11 abstentions (Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burundi, Colombia, Georgia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russian Federation, Samoa and Ukraine). Click here to view the voting record. Since its adoption, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States have all reversed their positions and now endorse the Declaration. Colombia and Samoa have also reversed their positions and indicated their support for the Declaration."
Event: 13 September 2012: various locations internationally
Fifth anniversary of the
United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Event details: http://social.un.org/index/IndigenousPeoples/DeclarationontheRightsofInd...
* LES MALEZER: FIVE YEARS ON - THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
- Analysis / Opinion
Indigenous Peoples Issues: Australia: Five Years On - The Fifth Anniversary Of The UN Declaration On The Rights Of Indigenous Peoples
Congress: nationalcongress.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DeclarationAnniversary.pdf
Indigenous Peoples Issues: http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=art...
12 Sep 12: "The Australian Human Rights Commission is collaborating with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and the Indigenous Peoples Organisations to implement a national strategy for increased awareness and understanding of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Looking back we must remember how it has taken so long to have our rights as indigenous peoples recognised in global governance and international law. Five years on, it is time for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be more vigorous in exercising these rights and freedoms." By Les Malezer. Les Malezer was the Chairperson / Coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Global Caucus on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples leading up to and at the time of the UN General Assembly vote on the Declaration on 13 September 2007. He is currently the Co-Chairperson of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
* AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TURNS FIVE YEARS OLD
- Analysis / Opinion
Australian Human Rights Commission: Declaration On Rights Of Indigenous Peoples Turns Five Years Old
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/news/2012/94_12.html
13 Sep 12: "The Government has taken some significant steps towards implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples but much more remained to be done, Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said today on the fifth anniversary of the UN adoption of the Declaration. He said the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, establishing the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and the National Healing Foundation all go some way to redressing the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples but the government still had to give full effect to the Declaration."
* JACK WATERFORD: $250,000 DELIVERED TO ABORIGINAL FAMILIES AT A COST OF $220,000
- Analysis / Opinion
Canberra Times: $250,000 delivered to Aboriginal families at a cost of $220,000
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/opinion/250000-delivered-to-aboriginal-f...
9 Sep 12: "IDO not think that welfarism minister Jenny Macklin has yet had the acclaim she deserves for a great Labor achievement announced this week - that government spending on indigenous Australians has reached, in average, about $250,000 per Aboriginal family a year. Macklin's own solid contribution has been to increase this sum by about 10 per cent, or $25,000 a family, since Julia Gillard took Labor into minority government." By Jack Waterford, Editor-at-large, The Canberra Times
* SOLIDARITY NEEDED FOR UNION ACTION AGAINST INCOME MANAGEMENT:
- Statement
Solidarity Needed for Union action against Income Management
Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-the-Intervention-Collective-Sydney/10...
Sydney Wobblies: http://www.facebook.com/iwwsydney
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=431166080254710&id=754...
10 Sep 12: "Public Service Association (PSA) members in Western Sydney at the Bankstown, Lakemba and Fairfield Community Services Centres (formerly known as DoCS offices) are implementing union bans on participating in income management and any activities relating to its implementation. Income management is part of the Northern Territory Intervention which is now being rolled out to 5 trial sites across Australia. It is widely viewed as discriminatory and paternalistic. The campaign against income management in Bankstown has been lead by the Bankstown Say No Government Income Management Campaign Coalition and supported by the Stop the Intervention Collective and over 65 local organisations, unions and faith groups, and by the NSW ALP."
* TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES: AMPILATWATJA REFUSES HOUSING LEASE OFFER
- News
Tennant & District Times: Ampilatwatja refuses housing lease offer
http://www.tennantcreektimes.com.au/story/334787/ampilatwatja-refuses-ho...
14 Sep 12: "Residents at Ampilatwatja have turned down a $3.7 million offer from the Federal Government to lease its public housing for 40 years. The Central Land Council, which deals on behalf of the community, has been instructed to break the news. There has also been a firm refusal to accept $1600 per annum in rent for the government business manager’s complex which includes demountable housing and office space. ... While the Commonwealth wants to continue with the NT Intervention under a new name - Stronger Futures - the people out at Ampilatwatja are not interested."
* BACKGROUND TO 'STRONGER FUTURES' NEW NT INTERVENTION LAWS:
Last updated: 7 September 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-...
* WALKATJURRA WALKABOUT: WALKERS CELEBRATE END OF WALK WITH JAPAN NUCLEAR PHASEOUT:
- Media Release
Walkatjurra Walkabout: Walkers celebrate end of walk with Japan nuclear phaseout
http://walkingforcountry.com/2012/09/14/walkers-celebrate-end-of-walk-wi...
14 Sep 12: "After walking for four weeks and over 270kms, the Walkatjurra Walkabout is completing the last ten kilometres this morning to reach their destination in Leonora. Starting from Yeelirrie, the walk is a collaborative effort of people from across Australia and local Traditional Owners to build resistance to the threat of uranium mining in Western Australia.
"Over one hundred and fifty walkers have participated in this event, and we have received messages of support and solidarity from people across the world. Globally communities are resisting the nuclear industry at every stage, and it is our responsibility here in Australia to ensure that uranium stays in the ground."
The walk is a celebration of the strength of the community in Leonora who have successfully fought to stop uranium mining at Yeelirrie for over forty years.
News of the recent acquisition of the Yeelirrie deposit by Canadian company Cameco has been a catalyst for renewed opposition.
Traditional Owner of Yeelirrie, Kado Muir: "Yesterday the Walkatjurra Walkabout joined us in re-establishing Kutunatu Ngurra a traditional camping place and sacred site where we have maintained our cultural practice and connection to country. The West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (WANFA) will meet here this weekend, and bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to continue to work in solidarity to uphold our right to protect country". ... "
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-...
* OTHER ARTICLES:
- Analysis / Opinion
National Indigenous Times: The story of David & Goliath: The Yindjibarndi and Fortescue Metals Group
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/1825-the-story-of-david-a-goliath-the-yind...
13 Sep 12: "by Gerry Georgatos, National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter. PART 1 (Part 2 will feature in the next edition). Mayinbungu has left however he is not gone - his life's narrative lives on, in the narratives of his descendants, within their form and content, in their lived experiences, in their belonging to the struggle to protect country and in the rights of the Yindjibarndi. His... "
National Indigenous Times: Constitional recognition: who benefits?
http://www.nit.com.au/opinion/1822-constitional-recognition-who-benefits...
13 Sep 12: "By Callum Clayton-Dixon. As the federal government pushes to recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia's constitution, the official rhetoric has left a lot to be desired. Despite much talk of 'reconciliation' and 'closing the gap', there has been very little reference to what constitutional recognition will actually do for indigenous people."
- Audio
Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association:
http://caama.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/am-14.9.12.mp3
http://caama.com.au/radio#tabs-6
14 Sep 12: "* A move to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Australian constitution before next years federal election has taken a nosedive following survey results which suggest only 36 percent of Australians are aware of the proposed referendum or what it is about.
* Melbourne based Aboriginal rock musician Dan Sultan who is currently headlining a series of concerts to to raise awareness and promote the need for recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian constitution. He says some people are scared that Aboriginal people will be given special rights."
- News
National Indigenous Radio Service: Traditional owner says no to "toxic backyard"
http://www.nirs.org.au/news/latest-news/7542-traditional-owner-says-no-t...
14 Sep 12: "Indigenous elders, community members and supporters from across the country are campaigning against uranium mining in Western Australia's mid-west. A Yeelirrie mine was sold by BHP Billiton to Canadian company Cameco recently. Some local traditional owners reject the project, saying they don't want uranium mining or transport of radioactive material on their land. Yeelirrie traditional owner and Chairperson of the Western Australian Nuclear Free Alliance Kado Muir says he doesn't want his homeland to turn into a radioactive zone."
National Indigenous Times: South Australia’s sneaky plan to close down Native Title claims
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1868-south-australias-sneaky-plan-to-close-do...
13 Sep 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Leaders have reacted with shock and dismay at moves by the South Australian Government to introduce legislation designed to end Native Title claims in the State."
National Indigenous Times: Gas hub project implodes
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1863-gas-hub-project-implodes.html
13 Sep 12: "By National Indigenous times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. The West Australian State Government and Woodside may now face criminal prosecution under the Aboriginal Heritage Act after it was revealed they conspired to withdraw critical expert advice that the James Price Point gas hub project could damage cultural sites."
National Indigenous Times: Prison officers warn “appalling” NT prisons will lead to tragedy
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1860-prison-officers-warn-appalling-nt-prison...
13 Sep 12: "By National Indigenous Times West Australian reporter Gerry Georgatos. Prisoners are sleeping on cell floors in deplorable conditions in Northern Territory prisons according to the Northern Territory Prison Officers' Association (NTPOA). More than 80 per cent of the Northern Territory prison population comprises Aboriginal peoples and the maltreatment and abusive conditions have... "
National Indigenous Times: Income management to begin in APY Lands from next month
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1852-income-management-to-begin-in-apy-lands-...
13 Sep 12: "Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has been backed by nine Aboriginal communities in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia, as she has by some in the South Australian lands with her decision to introduce an income management scheme. The Minister has announced income management will be introduced to the APY Lands next month."
National Indigenous Times: Aboriginal passports to be presented to 200 asylum seekers
http://www.nit.com.au/news/1849-aboriginal-passports-to-be-presented-to-...
13 Sep 12: "By National Indigenous Times reporter Geoff Bagnall. An ambitious plan to issue Aboriginal passports to 200 non-Aboriginal people including asylum seekers in the Villawood Detention Centre has been praised by activists. Michael Mansell, Secretary of the Aboriginal Provisional Government, Robbie Thorpe, Director of Treaty Republic and Sam Watson from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy... "
- - -
About WGAR News:
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/04/30/about-wgar-news-working-group-for-abo...
Subscription to 'WGAR News' is free.
'WGAR News' monitors the media, including alternative media, focusing on:
* the Australian Federal government intervention into Northern Territory (NT) Aboriginal communities;
* the Aboriginal sovereignty movement and tent embassies;
* other Aboriginal rights issues; and
* upcoming Aboriginal rights events around Australia.
'WGAR News' publishes information and opinions from a wide range of sources. These opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of WGAR.
The e-newsletters include media releases, opinion pieces, news items and events. Subscribers can expect to receive about 4 e-newsletters each week.
To subscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "subscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
To unsubscribe, email wgar.news@gmail.com and include the words "unsubscribe WGAR News" in the message header.
- - -
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.
- - -
WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)
WGAR Website: http://wgar.wordpress.com/