Aboriginal opposition to “Stronger Futures” laws is growing
In recent weeks a group of traditional owners representing 8000 people in west, central and east Arnhem Land wrote to the prime minister and others calling for the scrapping of the Stronger Futures laws.
Northeast of Alice Springs, Alyawarr homeland communities – including Lake Nash, Utopia and Ampilatwatja, covering 3500 people – also pledged to fight the laws.
Indigenous groups angry at intervention 9 News Jun 5 2012, Xavier La Canna. Two more Aboriginal groups have joined calls for the federal government to abandon laws that would intensify intervention in indigenous communities.
On Tuesday the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and the Tangentyere Council became the latest groups to speak out about the proposed Stronger Future laws, which are expected to pass the Senate this month…… NSWALC chairman Stephen Ryan said after six
years of intervention in Aboriginal communities in the Northern
Territory, the policy was light on outcomes and evidence.
“It’s unclear how extending a clearly discriminatory policy will help
solve the deep-rooted issues within NT communities,” Mr Ryan said in a
statement.He said if the laws pass, income management will also be
used in places like the Sydney suburb of Bankstown. Both the
Australian Labor Party and the coalition support the proposed laws,
making passage through the Senate a near certainty.
Chief executive of Tangentyere Council, Walter Shaw, said the intervention had pushed Aboriginal people in Central Australia to breaking point and the laws were “grossly flawed”. “It’s hard to believe that in 2012 we see paternalism at its worst … but that is the reality,” Mr Shaw said.
The Tangentyere Council provides services to Aboriginal town camps in Central Australia.
In recent weeks a group of traditional owners representing 8000 people in west, central and east Arnhem Land wrote to the prime minister and others calling for the scrapping of the Stronger Futures laws.
Northeast of Alice Springs, Alyawarr homeland communities – including Lake Nash, Utopia and Ampilatwatja, covering 3500 people – also pledged to fight the laws.
Last month Amnesty International slammed the Stronger Futures
legislation as “bad policy” that would stigmatise indigenous
Australians. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8478964
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1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
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