Government Report has vision for Sustainable Northern Australia
The Taskforce points the way for a sustainable future for the north of Australia – one that must include Aboriginal people at the heart of it.
Greens Challenge Government over Northern Australia Rachel Siewert 8th February 2010, The Australian Greens have challenged the Government to commit to implementing the vision outlined in the Sustainable Development in Northern Australia report released today. Continue reading
BHP’s uranium mine expansion will destroy Aboriginal heritage
Elder attacks Olympic Dam excavation plans ABC News 1 February 2010
Plans by BHP Billiton to excavate around its Olympic Dam mine in South Australia’s north have come under fire from a local Aboriginal elder. Continue reading
Confronting racism and environmental degradation are global issues
Australian corporations, like BHP, exploit labour and resources the world over.
Nationalism and racism Green Left Stuart Munckton 31 January 2010 Celebrating the day that began the British invasion and genocide is a permanent slap in the face for Aboriginal people. Continue reading
Aboriginal protest rallies on ‘Invasion Day’
members of the original Aboriginal nations assert their
independence and custodianship of their land.
Protesters march against invasion Oliver Hildebrand, Brisbane Green Left 30 January 2010 Despite rumours of a council ban, the annual January 26 Invasion Day rally and march from Parliament House to Musgrave Park went ahead, as it has done for more than 30 years. …….. Continue reading
Grassroots aboriginals reject Australian Government’s new “First Nations Congress”
Australia is in breach of every UN human rights covenant and must be held accountable. Many delegates were surprised at how many rights international law recognises.
New Way Summit delegates unanimously reject government sponsored Rep body
Working Group for Aboriginal Rights, Australia, Michael Anderson, Canberra, 31 January 2010 –-The New Way Summit of 150 Aboriginal people has unanimously opposed the proposed Rudd government sponsored national Aboriginal representative body to be known as ‘The First Nations Congress’….. Continue reading
Govt secrecy over nuclear waste transported to Woomera
Fears of nuclear waste dump site at Woomera KIM WHEATLEY, The Advertiser 27 Jan 2010) “The public needs to know and the traditional owners have a right to be aware.”
CONCERN is mounting that a site near Woomera may become the de facto radioactive waste dump for Australia.
This follows criticism the Defence Department failed to notify the public it was moving radioactive waste 450km from Edinburgh RAAF to a new waste dump at Woomera over the Christmas break. Continue reading
Cherie Blair will represent aboriginal nuclear victims in UK court case
Cherie Blair to work on SA compensation case ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 25 Jan 2010
The wife of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, will represent five Aboriginies seeking compensation for ill health caused by nuclear testing in South Australia’s outback during the 1950s. Continue reading
Australia Day – no celebration for aboriginal people
“Australia Day” celebrates shameful land grab
That these horrors began on January 26, 1788 is why many Aboriginal leaders denounce Australia Day as Invasion Day and call for the date of Australia’s national day to be changed to one that can be celebrated by all Australians.
Indigenous Peoples: 222 years of struggle for Australia’s Aboriginals Peter Robson
Green Left Online 17 Jan 2010 “………Colonisation then took the form of taking land. The land grab was justified by the doctrine of Terra Nullius, which said the native people of Australia were simply fauna, not owners of the land that colonists stole. Continue reading
Fremantle Anti Nuclear group (FANG) join international walk to the U.N.
Vital for aborigines to participate in climate change action
Environment jobs vital for aborigines, says UN study, Sydney Morning Herald YUKO NARUSHIMA 15 Jan 2010
ABORIGINES need access to jobs in the environment sector if they are to benefit from any global attempt to curb climate change, says the author of a UN report out today.
The State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples says climate change hurts indigenous people disproportionately, and in some places threatens their existence. Continue reading
Aboriginal’s sacred land versus AREVA’s uranium
Jeffrey just wants to go fishing Live, smile, and breathe 12 Jan 2010 The following article was first written by Lindsay Murdock on July 14, 2007.
Who wants to be a billionaire? I don’t JEFFREY Lee is not interested in the soaring price of uranium, which could make him one of the world’s richest men.”This is my country, look, it’s beautiful and I fear somebody will disturb it,” he said, waving his arm across rocky land surrounded by the Kakadu National Park, where the French mining giant Areva wants to extract 14,000 tonnes of uranium worth more than $5 billion. Continue reading
Review of the nuclear year that has been
Review of the nuclear year that has been Christina Macpherson 5 January 2010
Australia: An extraordinary year in which Climate Sceptics were allowed to dominate much of the media, turning Australia into a curious outpost of anti-science. Pro-nuclear hype revved up, too – sometimes promoted as cure for global warming, but, inexplicably, also promoted by climate change disbelievers.
BHP Billiton put out huge but inadequate Environmental Impact Statement for its planned Olympic Dam expansion. Uranium explorations all over the place, especially in South Australia, as govt and mining industry try to manipulate aboriginal owners. Awareness of radiation effects at last leads to Maralinga veterans’ legal bid for justice.
International: While the nuclear hype went on, the facts were otherwise. France’s “flagship” new nukes are still struggling, under construction, and ramping up huge debts to AREVA. UK and USA governments struggle with the reality that only the tax-payer can pay the costs of nuclear power. State-owned nuclear industry – e.g France, Russia, China are not troubled by having to reveal the costs.
USA in a turmoil over where to put nuclear wastes, as Yucca Mountain dump plan is dumped. Revelations of illegal waste-dumping by UK and European countries were quickly glossed over in mainstream media. China is secretive about its nuke wastes, in earthquake areas, and imprisons nuclear dissidents.
The world waits for a resolution of Iran and its nukes, with fear of attack on Iran by Israel or the USA.. Middle Eastern countries seek nuclear power “for peaceful purposes only”, while India revs up its nuke power and nuke weapons, and everyone eyes Pakistan with trepidation.
Quietly, the anti-nuclear and anti-uranium movements built up momentum, along with strengthening indigenous rights movement, and a strong presence at Copenhagen. Impediments occur to the growth of the nuclear industry, including for example, quite a few legal victories in USA.
Call for aboriginal summit
here in Australia the government has spin doctors operating full time to hide the true state of play in respect of Aboriginal people. They are paid big dollars to convince the white Australian public that what they do for Aborigines is in the interest of the Aboriginal people and that special measures are necessary. “
Aboriginal struggle like those in China and Iran Goodooga, northwest NSW, 3 January 2010 – – A NSW activist likens the struggle for Aboriginal rights to the uprisings to win freedom in China and Iran. Continue reading
Aboriginal people the undisputed owners of their land
Noel Pearson and Indigenous Australia A Review of the Essay Collection Up From the Mission Suite 101 Dec 16, 2009 Chris Saliba “…………When the High Court of Australia overturned the idea of terra nullius, it also stood Australia’s previously understood land title system on its head. It established that the Aboriginal people had been the undisputed owners of the land before white settlement. While this ruling would cause enormous controversy in Australia, freehold and pastoral titles would not be adversely affected in any way………………Here Pearson explains the challenges for native land title claimants:
“Non-indigenous parties to land claims can never lose any of their rights or titles, because these are indefeasible under the common law – and if they were ever invalid, the Native Title Act has now cured any invalidities. The only party that can truly lose in a native title claim is the Indigenous claimant. The non-indigenous parties – including the Crown – have nothing to lose, other than an argument to the effect that the Indigenous people have no entitlement.”
Noel Pearson and Indigenous Australia: A Review of the Essay Collection Up From the Mission
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