Images of Manuwangku – a community fights against nuclear waste dumping
The words of Dr Nelson that the place constitutes ”the middle of nowhere” echo the old doctrine of terra nullius. If land is bare, then it is open. The land was not bare at Captain Cook’s discovery of Australia, it was not bare at the start of British colonisation, and it isn’t bare now.
Photographer Jagath Dheerasekara reminds us of this in a recent exhibition at Customs House in Sydney, curated by Sandy Edwards.
A community maintains its spirit in confronting ignorance, SMH, Erin Stewart May 31, 2012
Images of Manuwangku show the human face of the waste dump plan. IN 2005, then education minister Dr Brendan Nelson told Australians there would be no harm in putting a nuclear waste plant ”in the middle of nowhere”.
In 2007, the exact ”middle of nowhere” was identified as Muckaty, or Manuwangku, as the Aboriginal owners of this remote Northern Territory community call it. Despite local fear, dismay, and rejection of the proposal to dump nuclear waste there, the battle is ongoing. The residents fear for the future.
This Sunday it will be 20 years since the High Court’s landmark Mabo decision, which led to the passing of the Native Title Act. Moreover, Article 29 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples holds that ”no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous
peoples without their free, prior and informed consent”.
A Federal Court case continues over whether adequate consultation was conducted by the Northern Land Council prior to nominating the site. Regardless of common law, statute and international law that protects indigenous land rights, Manuwangku is still under threat. Continue reading
Wiluna locals unhappy on uranium plans
Western Nuclear free Alliance ,24th May 2012 Wiluna locals have sent letters to both WA Environment Minister Bill Marmion and Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke inviting them both to Wiluna to discuss the proposed uranium mine by Toro Energy.Wiluna local and senior law man Glen Cooke has been very critical of the consultation process and is now seeking consultation from the Ministers, with the support of others in the community.
Mr Cooke said “Toro Energy they only talk to a few people, always the same people. It’s not right, the people from Bondini’s (the community closest to the proposed mine) sometimes they don’t know about meetings, or they’re not invited to meetings or they can’t get to meetings. This is not right.”
“Marmion and Burke they will be making a big decision that will affect our community our dreaming and our health. Before they make a decision on what happens in our community, before signing away our country from many thousands of kilometers away they should come and look us in the eyes.”
Kado Muir, Chairperson of the West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance and Ngalia man said “The decision by EPA to approve the mining and transport of uranium has sent a shiver of fear through Aboriginal communities in the Goldfields. Our families in Wiluna face the prospect of having their country and environment poisoned by the Toro mine, while those of us living in Leonora and Kalgoorlie can only live in fear and hope that the road trains driving through our town does not have an unfortunate accident.
“The trucking of uranium down the Goldfields highway, sneaking around the back of Kalgoorlie and scurrying out of the State to South Australia along the Eyre highway is a striking commentary on the ‘not in my backyard syndrome’. Lead exports through Esperance and Fremantle demonstrated that industry and Government owned ports can’t cope with Lead, how will they ever transport uranium safely, it’s like playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun.
“This is an irresponsible politically motivated decision by the EPA to pander to Barnetts ‘development at all costs’ agenda for Western Australia. “The EPA needs to redeem its legitimacy and hold a full public enquiry as provided for under their Act into the wider environmental and public health consequences of uranium mining in WA” Mr Muir concluded.
(the signatures on this letter are only a few of the many many people in Wiluna who are concerned about the uranium mine at Wiluna- due to bad timing and meetings). http://nuclearfree.wordpress.com/media/
Musicians in the struggle for Aboriginals’ justice against Australia’s nuclear industry
The band also show their passionate connections to country in the song “Story”, whose deep story belies its brief lyrics. “Behind the lyrics lie one of the darkest stories of modern Australian history,” says Basil. “The dispossession of desert people by our country’s involvement in the atomic bomb-making industry.
“In the ’50s and ’60s, two groups of desert people living thousands and thousands of kilometres apart were taken out of their homelands. The song’s lyrics name those places. “In the north, Pintubi people were taken to Papunya. Blue-streak rockets fired from Woomera landed on their country. “In the south, Maralinga pe
Anti-nuclear brothers are radio activists, Green Left , May 21, 2012,By Mat Ward Nuclear Kop The Super Raelene Brothers www.superraelenebrothers.com.au
Anti-nuclear activist band The Super Raelene Brothers first made it into the pages of Green Left Weekly in 1995. But the duo, who have just dropped their latest atomic-bomb-atomising EP, Nuclear Kop, were making m usic way before then….. We create songs that celebrate what we see and where we are. We also build songs that voice concern about what is happening or not happening in our local community.”
Those concerns have led them to release songs such as “‘Wiya Angela-Pamela”, which went to number 1 on Triple J’s Unearthed charts in 2010, and a cover of Redgum’s 1980 classic “Nuclear Cop” ― both available as free downloads on their website . Continue reading
Australia will be an international pariah if new Northern Territory Intervention laws go ahead
The chairman of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples says it’s a major disappointment that the Government is extending laws for another 10 years, without the consent of the people concerned. Les Malezer says the laws are racist. Continue reading
High Court rules for Aboriginal land rights, against South Australian govt
In December, the South Australian Supreme Court found Ms Portolesi had denied landowners “procedural fairness” by ignoring for seven months a request for authority over land at Lake Torrens in the state’s mid-north. On the same day she responded to their request, she approved a mining company’s application to disturb a site of significance.
SA Labor’s land rights appeal rejected BY: SARAH MARTIN From: The Australian May 12, 2012 THE High Court has thrown out an appeal by the South Australian Labor government against Aboriginal landowners, deeming it not to be in the public interest. Continue reading
South Australian government backing miners, bankrupting Aboriginals with legal costs
State seeks day in High Court over land rights, BY:SARAH MARTIN, SA POLITICAL REPORTER The Australian May 11, TRADITIONAL owners have warned that a government High Court challenge over land rights in South Australia’s mid-north could send them bankrupt.
In the High Court today, the South Australian Labor government will appeal to have a finding against it overturned. Lawyers will seek costs of up to $300,000 from the Adnyamathantha Traditional Lands Association.
The South Australian Supreme Court ruled in December that former Aboriginal affairs minister Grace Portolesi had “deprived the traditional owners of the opportunity to protect and preserve their heritage” by failing to respond to a request for authority over their land at Lake Torrens, about 345km north of Adelaide.
The court found the government ignored the request from traditional owners for control over the land for about seven months.
However, on the same day Ms Portolesi responded to their request expressing “concerns” over the application, she approved the destruction of significant cultural sites on the land by a mining company, Straits Exploration.
Lands association chairman Vince Coulthard said he was surprised the government was attempting to overturn the ruling and impose costs on the group.
“It could potentially bankrupt us, but maybe that is what the state government wants,” he said.
“I feel it is a mean attack on us, given this whole thing could have been avoided.”
The court found Ms Portolesi had denied traditional owners “procedural fairness” by authorising drilling at the Lake Torrens site while failing to respond to a request for a delegation of ministerial powers to the traditional owners.
Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act – which the government is now reviewing – the minister must transfer authority to traditional owners if requested……..
The High Court will consider today whether it will accept the state’s application for a hearing. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/state-seeks-day-in-high-court-over-land-rights/story-fn9hm1pm-1226352471154
Draconian Aboriginal Intervention laws meeting with powerful community opposition
From the bush to Bankstown, communities prepare to fight ‘Stronger Futures’ welfare laws Green Left, May 10, 2012 The Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney released the statement below on May 9.
Remote NT communities are joining with the south-western Sydney suburb of Bankstown in a pledge to challenge the implementation of ‘Stronger Futures’ legislation which is set to be debated in the Senate.
“Stronger Futures” will extend draconian NT intervention powers for a further 10 years. The laws also facilitate the national expansion of income management, pioneered under the NT intervention, beginning with Bankstown and four other “trial sites” across Australia.
“Stronger Futures” has faced fierce opposition from Aboriginal communities, churches and peak organisations. More than 36,000 people have signed the online “Stand for Freedom” campaign calling for withdrawal of the legislation.
In a historic statement from Arnhem Land last week, Yolŋu Elders pledged to refuse to negotiate any leases, including mining exploration leases, while the government pushed ahead with “Stronger Futures”.
In Bankstown, the Say No to Government Income Management Campaign Coalition, with strong roots in the community sector, Aboriginal and migrant communities, is organising a major seminar on May 26 to discuss strategies for stopping the implementation of income management…… Paddy Gibson from the Stop the Intervention Collective Sydney has just returned from a research trip to the Northern Territory.
He said: “The NT intervention was designed to deny any control or opportunity to Aboriginal people in remote communities and force a migration into town and larger settlements. Every time I visit these communities the situation has deteriorated further. People are completely disenfranchised, there is next to no employment and in places even basic amenities like sewage are collapsing.
“Scratch the surface of the government’s ‘Stronger Futures’ budget announcements for the NT and you find even less funding for homeland services than the current levels which keep people living in third world conditions.
“The decision not to fund a waged employment program to replace CDEP, once 7500 strong in the NT, is a death sentence for many communities. Meanwhile funding for bureaucracies to punish and control Aboriginal people through the income management and prison systems are spiraling out of control.”…. http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50971
Stop Northern Territory aboriginal Intervention laws – Australia’s Catholic bishops tell Senate
Bishops slam NT intervention extension Big Pond News, May 07, 2012 Australia’s Catholic bishops have urged the Senate to block draft legislation to extend the Northern Territory intervention in Aboriginal communities.
Labor’s Stronger Futures draft laws are likely to clear the upper house with bipartisan support when federal parliament resumes this week. Continue reading
Musicians, church leaders and 36,000 Australians oppose the “Stronger Futures” laws
Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser, the Catholic Church and Uniting Church have backed the elder’s stance.
More than 36,000 people have signed the Stand for Freedom campaign petition against the Stronger Future laws.
Musicians rally against ‘Stronger Futures’, THE AUSTRALIAN AAP May 04, 2012 AUSTRALIAN musicians Paul Kelly, Neil Murray and Archie Roach have joined Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders in rallying against the federal government’s Stronger Futures Laws. Continue reading
Australian government Intervention laws against Aborigines contravene human rights
The government has wilful deafness on such a fundamental issue, even after critical reports on the intervention by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples.
Intervention laws face human rights hurdle BY: PATRICIA KARVELAS The Australian May 04, 2012 THE National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples has threatened to use “domestic and international human rights forums” to humiliate the Gillard government over the next stage of its radical intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. Continue reading
Australia’s renewed Intervention laws meet strong opposition from Aboriginal elders
NT elders fight Stronger Futures law plans, THE AUSTRALIAN AAP , May 02, 2012 ABORIGINAL leaders from Arnhem Land communities have threatened a revolt against the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures laws by refusing to participate in land lease negotiations or give the nod to mining exploration licences. Continue reading
Multi $billion company BHP and Australian Government out to punish Aboriginal elder who dared to oppose uranium mine
DEMOCRACY AT A PRICE: DECISION BY BHP BILLITON AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEEK COSTS FROM ARABUNNA ELDER PUNITIVE AND VINDICTIVE, 1st May 2012 The Australian Nuclear Free Alliance (ANFA) is deeply concerned by the decision of BHP Billiton and the Federal Government to seek costs from Arabunna elder uncle Kevin Buzzacott arising from his challenge of the Federal approval of the Olympic Dam expansion.“ANFA members fully support Uncle Kevin and admire his stand for country. We know that history will be the fairest judge of this struggle. BHP and the minister who approved the expansion of Olympic Dam will be forever linked to the toxic legacy of this mine, for thousands of years to come,” said Larrakia woman Donna Jackson, co-chair of ANFA.
“The court decided that Kevin Buzzacott had standing to pursue this challenge, as is his right under both the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act and the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act,” said ANFA Committe member Nectaria Calan. “Where does this leave the right to judicial review of such projects if those who seek such a review are then punished with costs?”
Dean Della Vale, president of BHP’s Uranium Customer Sector Group which is responsible for the Olympic Dam project, is a founding member of the Australian Uranium Associations Indigenous Dialogue Group, established to facilitate dialogue with traditional owners.
“BHP pursuing costs undermines any claims by the Indigenous Dialogue Group that they are seeking to engage with aboriginal communities in good faith. Aboriginal communities do not have the right to say no to mining on their land, and here we have an elder using one of the few legal options available to them to ensure that at least the impacts of the project were properly considered, and they may be facing a massive bill for doing so,” said Ms Calan.
“The message BHP are sending is that there are repercussions for taking on the mining giant. Last financial year the company recorded a total net profit of US$23. 95 billion – they certainly don’t need the money,” Ms Calan concluded.
The Australian Uranium Association’s plan to make Aborigines become uranium miners
Uranium industry to set Indigenous jobs benchmark ABC News By Myles Morgan April 27, 2012 The body representing Australia’s uranium miners and associated businesses says the industry will start to set targets for Indigenous employment from this year. The Australian Uranium Association says each company it represents
will set its own targets for providing jobs to indigenous people, which will be reviewed annually.
Association chief executive Michael Angwin says Indigenous people deserve to be represented in the uranium industry. “Our projects are mostly on land owned by Indigenous people,” he said…… He says says the plan follows advice from the association’s Indigenous Dialogue Group……
A sad day for Aborigines, as BHP wins court case, and will seek costs from Aboriginal elder.
Elder loses court fight over outback mining plan, ABC News, April 20, 2012 The Federal Court has dismissed an application by an Aboriginal elder to overturn a proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium and copper
mine in outback South Australia. Kevin Buzzacott challenged the Federal Government’s approval for the
expansion, which was granted last year.
He argued environmental risks from the planned expansion of underground mining to an open pit operation had not been properly considered. But Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed the application.
Mine owner BHP Billiton is seeking court costs from Mr Buzzacott. Outside court, he said he was disappointed with the result. “We were expecting something like that to happen,” he said. “I guess it’s another sad day for the people of South Australia and especially my people as well.”….. The mining company’s board is due to make a final decision later in the year on whether to proceed with the expansion.
BHP spokesman Kym Winter-Dewhirst says the company was always confident the court would rule in its favour. ….
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-20/federal-court-elder-challenge-bhp-mine-expansion/3963312
Warren Mundine – the nuclear industry’s Aboriginal puppet
Mundine’s claim to support Aboriginal empowerment is contradicted by his consistent failure to speak out when mining and nuclear interests and governments that support those interests disempower Aboriginal people.
Warren Mundine’s nuclear allegiances. Online opinion, By Jim Green , 11 April 2012 Warren Mundine, a member and former National President of the ALP, and co-convener of the Australian Uranium Association’s Indigenous Dialogue Group, has been promoting the nuclear industry recently. Unfortunately he turns a blind eye to the industry’s crude racism, a problem that ought to be core business for the Indigenous Dialogue Group.
Mundine could have mentioned the legacy of uranium mining in the Wiluna region of WA; to pick one of many examples. Uranium exploration in the region in the 1980s left a legacy of pollution and contamination. Greatly elevated radiation levels have been recorded despite the area being ‘cleaned’ a decade ago. Even after the ‘clean up’, the site was left with rusting drums containing uranium ore. A sign reading “Danger − low level radiation ore exposed” was found lying face down in bushes. Continue reading
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