BlackGreenSolidarity

8 The Black GST Public Meeting- BOYCOTT THE STOLENWEALTH GAMES

2005-05-15T05:29:00.000-07:00

TO All INDIGENOUS PEOPLE and SUPPORTERS The Black GST Public Meeting 7pm,18 May 2005 Trades Hall BarTrades Hall, Cnr Victoria Pde and Lygon Sts, Carlton If you want to know about the Black GST, what it stands for, its aims and objectives, come to this public meeting.The Black GST is a group of 4 Indigenous and 4 non-Indigenous people who are appalled at the current state of affairs in Black Australia. We will be asking for your support and cooperation in bringing about the largest Aboriginal-led gathering since the Commonwealth Games in 1982, and the Bicentennial in 1988. We will be asking non-Aboriginal supporters to march in solidarity. We will answer any questions or doubts you might have. This campaign addresses everything Aboriginal people have been fighting for for the past 217 years: * Genocide to be stopped * Sovereignty to be restored * Treaty to be made Start organising now for the protests in Melbourne in March 2006. Boycott the Melbourne 2006 Stolenwealth Games! Buy your Black GST t-shirt on the night. No sweat shop. $30. Funds raised through sale of t-shirts goes direct to the costs of staging the March 2006 protests. Further info check out our website and sign up! PO Box 4320, University of Melbourne, VIC 3052

9 Ancestral remains returned to Yorta Yorta elders

2005-05-15T04:19:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 27 April 2005, 13:34:00 AEST except from ABC Ancestral remains returned to Yorta Yorta elders The remains of four Yorta Yorta people, held in a Sydney University Museum, are being returned to elders at a ceremony today. The remains were taken from the Murray River border towns of Tocumwal, Moama and Finley. Two of the individuals probably lived more than 100 years ago and two in the period before European settlement. The Yorta Yorta Nations represented by six elders, are reclaiming the ancestral remains at Sydney University. http://

10 The Convincing Ground - Anger over plans to build on massacre site

2005-05-15T04:17:00.000-07:00

Anger over plans to build on massacre site By Martin BoultonJanuary 28, 2005 excerpt from The Age Portland Koori Wal Saunders on the 'Convincing Ground', site of an 1830s massacre that almost wiped out the Kilcarer Gundidj tribe. The council plans a housing development on the site. The site of an Aboriginal massacre in Portland during the area's early whaling days could be protected, despite approval of a housing development on the land. Western Victoria's Glenelg Shire Council and the local Koori community are locked in a bitter fight over whether the land, known as the 'Convincing Ground',should be preserved for its historical and cultural significance. From Portland's beginning as a whaling station in 1829, relations between whalers and the Aboriginal community were tense, but erupted around 1833 when almost the entire Kilcarer Gundidj tribe was massacred after a dispute over the ownership of a beached whale. In his book Scars in the Landscape, historian Ian D. Clark includes an extract from the journal of Port Phillip's first chief protector for Aborigines, George Robinson, who wrote about the massacre. 'Among the remarkable places on the coast is the 'Convincing Ground' (where) a severe conflict took place . . . between the Aborigines and the whalers on which occasion a large number of the former were slain,' Robinson wrote Stay tuned for more info…..

11 NT murder cover-up unravels

2005-05-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

The cover-up of the murder of Douglas Scott in Darwin’s Berrimah prison continues to unravel in the Northern Territory Supreme Court. The case against the NT government and three prison officers, Barry Medley, Michael Lawson and Harold Robertson, concluded its second week on April 22. The case, brought by Douglas’s widow Letty and son Nathan, is the culmination of an almost 20-year fight to expose the truth about Douglas’s death in custody on July 5, 1985. The week in court began when the NT government defence cross-examined Letty and attempted to discredit her case. It used a statement to the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which Letty told the court was not authored by herself, but by her appointed legal representative at the commission, Jon Tippett. [.. --> http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/624/ ] Supporters are urged to attend the court hearings during April 26-29 to show solidarity with Letty and Nathan’s fight. Messages of support can be emailed via Darwin (at) greenleft.org.au

12 Free the Refugees from this Fascist Government

2005-05-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

12 Free the Refugees from this Fascist Government Immigration Department deports using false travel documents, advocates claim Media Release Sunday May 1 2005 10:40pm WST 'Refugee advocates Project SafeCom cannot conclude otherwise than that the Australian Department of Immigration has used falsified documents to force a deportation,' spokesman Jack H Smit said this morning. 'Whenever someone is scheduled to be deported who cannot provide conclusive identity about his or her person, such a deportation is stalled until identities can be confirmed. This has become part of public knowledge especially in the case of Mr Peter Qasim, who claims to be from a disputed Kashmiri area, and who cannot be deported according to the Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone, and also according to Mr Qasim's own statements, who has claimed he is 'willing to go anywhere' if he only could.' more @ http://www.safecom.org.au/news-0105-2005-4.htm Include detention deaths in Cornelia Rau Inquiry, advocates say After media reports that yet another person has died in immigration detention, this time in Darwin harbour - while this is not the first time someone dies whist being detained on a cramped rickety fishing boat in the Darwin harbour - resulting in a demand for answers from the Indonesian government about the cause of this death, WA Refugee group Project SafeCom demands that the Cornelia Rau Inquiry should again be extended to also include deaths in Immigration detention,' spokesman Jack H Smit said today. http://www.safecom.org.au/news-0105-2005-2.htm Not just 'a few' but 33 unlawfully detained, Senate records show http://www.safecom.org.au/news-0105-2005-3.htm John Howard's "final solution" should cause a revolution in Parliament http://www.safecom.org.au/news-2604-2005.htm World Refugee Day organising We would like to invite you to a discussion and planning meeting about the events for World Refugee Day (onjune19)to make it the most successful and inclusive as we can The first meeting will be held at 6.00pm, Tuesday 17 May, Prime Ministers meeting room, 9th floor, Labor Council building, 377-383 Sussex Street, Sydney.

13 A Fair Go For East Timor

2005-05-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

For more on the issues, please visit http://www.timorseajustice.org, email info (at) timorseajustice.org Melbourne Rally Around fifty people gathered this lunchtime outside DFAT in Melbourne in a protest timed to coincide with maritime boundary negotiations between Australia and East Timor... 'At maritime boundary negotiations on April 26, the Australian Government will try to short change East Timor out of billions of dollars. Despite East Timor being the poorest country in Asia, the Australian Government has already taken over two billion dollars worth of gas and oil taxation that under International Law belongs to East Timor! It now wants to take a disproportionate share of the Greater Sunrise field and deprive East Timor of a further $40 billion that would enable East Timor to overcome the widespread hunger, preventable diseases and poverty it currently faces. Demand that East Timor gets a fair go in the Timor Sea!' http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/91136_comment.php Sydney Rally An emotional Timorese women, Ina Bradbidge from HOPE, told the protest that her people did not need 'aid' but 'what is ours'. Jeff Lee from AETA asked where was the justice for Timor. Max Lane from Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific described the current sea boundaries, which was negotiated with Indonesia’s dictator president Suharto as 'a border negotiated with blood' and said that the Timorese needed full sovereignty, not blood money. Meredith Burgmann from the ALP, Silvia Hale from the Greens and Claude Mostowick from Pax Christi also addressed the protest, criticising the Howard government for its treachery when so many Timorese were starving, unemployed and without hope. For more information and to get involved, check outhttp://www.TimorSeaJustice.org/ http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/91151.php

14 PEACE WALK asks UN to take steps toward a NUCLEAR FREE FUTURE

2005-05-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

New York City- On Sunday, May 1st, 2005, an international group of about 100 people will complete a 7 week, 780 mile pilgrimage from the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant in Oak Ridge, TN, to the United Nations in New York City. Accompanied by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Tadatoshi Akiba, and 13 Hiroshima bomb survivors, the “Stop the Bombs International Peace Walk” will depart from Fort Lee, New Jersey around 6:30 am, cross the George Washington bridge and travel along Broadway to meet with the 'United for Peace and Justice' and 'Abolition Now' groups at 11:30am. All groups will then walk past the United Nations building to arrive in Central Park at 12:00pm for a large rally. http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/05/91345.php

15 Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty

2005-05-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Review Conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will be held at the United Nations in New York from 2 - 27 May 2005. BACKGROUND ON THE NPT The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was brought into force in 1970 and has been signed by 188 countries, including Australia. The NPT calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons and is a key disarmament treaty. Parties to the NPT meet every five years to review the implementation of the objectives of the Treaty at a Review Conference. The Review Conference being held in May in New York will run over four weeks and is attended by representatives from all member states, including the Australian government. Check out the Medical Association for the Prevention of Warhttp://www.mapw.org.au/nuclear/nonproliferationtreaty/npt-index.html

16 Kidney crisis hits rural areas

2005-05-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

28 March 2005 - AN outbreak of kidney disease in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands in South Australia is tearing people out of their communities and forcing them to live hundreds of kilometres away so they can be treated. More than 100 people from the Lands are being tested for renal diseases each week in Alice Springs, Port Augusta and Adelaide. At least 13 families have relocated to makeshift camps near Alice Springs and Port Augusta so family members can receive blood transfusions and other treatment. Aboriginal rights campaigner Les Nayda said renal units were needed in Pipalyatjara, Ernabella and Mimili to serve the growing numbers of Anangu people suffering from renal disease. He said water quality, which had been attributed to causing the kidney problems, should be assessed. 'This is past being wanted. It is needed desperately,' Mr Nayda said. 'The epidemic of renal disease surpasses the petrol sniffing problems.' click headline for more http://www.eniar.org/news/dialysis.html

17 Greenies&Fishing Groups Unite For Port Phillip Bay

2005-05-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

17 Greenies&Fishing Groups Unite For Port Phillip Bay Community opposition to the proposal to deepen shipping channels in Port Phillip Bay continues to grow in the face of mounting evidence of significant and potentially catastrophic environmental risks - and no economic benefits.The dredging proposal has forged an alliance between commercial fishermen and community environment groups. Apart from being cute, penguins are an important indicator of the health of Port Phillip Bay. Their survival depends on good fish stocks, which in turn rely on supplies of microscopic water bugs and plants. An ongoing study of the St Kilda penguin colony by Earthcare St. Kilda has recorded a 900% increase in penguins living at St Kilda since 1986. However Zoe Hogg, Penguin Study Coordinator says “The Channel Deepening proposal is a significant threat to both the thriving St Kilda penguin colony and the Commercial fishing industry. Both rely on anchovies - a species that would be badly affected if the proposal went ahead”. “Heavy metal poisoning as a result of channel deepening is a real threat, both to penguins and the commercial fishing industry”. “Starving penguins will be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the toxins released into the food chain by dredging in the Yarra estuary. Similarly, there is a chance that fish caught in Port Phillip Bay would become unfit for human consumption if the proposal went ahead”, says Zoe…. Government has recently announced further Channel Deepening studies will be undertaken by the Port of Melbourne – “The very people who couldn’t manage the $12 million taxpayer funded EES first round of investigations!” says Jenny Warfe Blue Wedges Coalition spokesperson. “It’s time for some independent science not studies managed by the PoMC – who so far have acted on behalf of international shippers rather than Victorians” and “Over-fishing is not the issue, it’s habitat destruction caused by the Port of Melbourne dredging Port Phillip Bay and the Yarra River which is the big threat to Penguins, fishermen and all those who love and rely on the Bay” says Jenny. Further information: Zoe Hogg, Earthcare St Kilda Inc 0402 164 482 Phillip McAdam, Port Phillip Bay Professional Fishermen’s Assoc 9397 1128 Jenny Warfe, Blue Wedges Coalition 5987 1583 ****clickheadlinetogoto Blue Wedges website

18 5 arrested in Cathcart public forest, south east NSW

2005-05-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday April 26th 2005 Five conservationists were arrested in Cathcart State Forest today charged with failing to leave a prohibited area. The conservationists had risked their lives and braved $2200 fines under the draconian Forestry Regulations in an effort to keep chainsaws out of an area of forest for which they are seeking protection. The group, from South East Forest Rescue set up a tree sit in the forest this morning, but were forcibly removed by police action late this afternoon. After being removed from the forest they were taken to the Bombala lock-up. The forest in question is Cathcart State Forest Compartment 1377 at Mount Darragh 35 kms east of Bombala. The heavy handed Government response came after the group had used cables attached to a tree sit to immobilize logging machinery. 'These courageous people have put their own safety at risk to save this forest and the community owes them a debt of enormous gratitude,' said spokesperson Harriett Swift. more @ Gulaga Forest Vigil Open Day 10:00am Sunday 8 May Come down and breath the fresh south coast air and drink clean mountain water, and lend your support to stop the woodchip machine. [where] Gulaga Forest Camp Bodalla State Forest South Coast [transport] 10kms south of Narooma on South Coast, about 5 hours from smogney,Premier Busline buses from Central Station to Tilba, we can arrange pick up.... [contact] Tilba Ecology Network Ph: 44737 075 Forest Camp: 0438246334 [email] croobs (at) hotmail.com Yes the woodchippers are still!!!! at it, the south coast is hotting up as we try yet again to demand our forests and the diversity of life they support are looked after. We need YOU and your friends to spend a day, weekend or week to help man this latest vigil camp to protect the sacred mountain Gulaga from the woodchip machine. Its a great chance for a break from the city strife.

19 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion under threat

2005-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

19 Brigalow Belt South Bioregion under threat The logging moratorium that covers half of the forests in the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion is under threat again. The government undertook to finalise the Western Regional Assessment by the end of March this year, but failed to fulfil that promise. Meanwhile, the Western Conservation Alliance (WCA) has refused to negotiate or compromise any further moratorium compartments, and Forests NSW have indicated that they will send a contractor into the High Conservation Value moratorium-protected Drillwarrina SF. So... The WCA is organising a camp to Drillwarrina. There is nobody logging there yet, but communications are bad and its hard to know when exactly they will begin. The camp is being organised to send a message to the govt and to Forests NSW that we will not allow them to transgress the moratorium simply because the govt. is too weak to make a decision on the future of the forests. Please come along to the camp next week -- starting the 9th May. There will be activist training activities on at the camp and transport is being organised from Newcastle and possibly Sydney. If you can come, or you want more info, contact Claire Dunn: href="mailto:claire.dunn (at) wilderness.org.au">Email me! ph. 49294395

20 NT Aborigines consider own political party

2005-05-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

20 NT Aborigines consider own political party An ATSIC regional councillor says Aborigines in the Northern Territory are considering starting their own political party. Yilli Rreung chairman Kimberley Hunter says forums being held to discuss an alternative, once the councils cease to exist in June, have found the desire for an Indigenous party. He says Aboriginal people feel the Territory Government has failed to help establish a body to replace ATSIC. Mr Hunter says Indigenous people fear they are losing their voice. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1353268.htm

21 Sir Joh's civil rights legacy condemned

2005-05-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Civil liberties and Indigenous activists have condemned the human rights record of former Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Sir Joh, 94, the state's longest serving premier, passed away in a Kingaroy yesterday after almost a week in hospital... Aboriginal activist Sam Watson says the Indigenous community respects the Bjelke-Petersen family's grief, but it will not be mourning. Mr Watson says Indigenous Queenslanders still have very deep and hurtful memories of how Sir Joh treated them. 'Acknowledge the constructive things that he did and the contribution he made but also acknowledge there is a darker side to Joh, as evidenced by testimony from Aboriginal people and as evidenced by the entire Fitzgerald Inquiry,' he said. Mr Watson says the former premier's legacy lives on today. 'We still have senior people in those Cape communities, I mean Joh ordered the bulldozers into Mapoon as well, totally destroyed a community's township and the order to serve mining interests,' he said. more @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1352338.htm

22 Govt accused of secrecy over post-ATSIC plans

2005-05-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

ABC News Online Thursday, April 28, 2005. 6:18am (AEST) Govt accused of secrecy over post-ATSIC plans The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner says the Federal Government needs to be straight with Indigenous people about what will happen after ATSIC is disbanded in June. Commissioner Tom Calma says details on how the Commonwealth departments will administer Indigenous affairs are being kept secret, despite the new system coming into effect in less than two months. He says if the Government continues to keep the public in the dark about post-ATSIC arrangements, the Indigenous voice could be lost. Mr Calma launched the 2004 reports on social justice and native title in Darwin last night Government departments will take over the administration of Indigenous affairs from the July 1. more @ http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1354975.htm

BLACKGREENWEBLINKS

2005-05-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Click Headline to go to full story links

23 Blacks teens told: leave lands for work-murdochpaperarticle

2005-05-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

ABORIGINAL teenagers who drop out of school should expect to leave their traditional lands to attend TAFE and training courses, indigenous leaders said yesterday. __ A Howard Government plan to stop indigenous people staying on Aboriginal work-for-the-dole programs indefinitely has been supported by Aboriginal leaders. __ But they have warned that training places need to be dramatically increased for the scheme to work. __ Members of the the Government's National Indigenous Council said that training should be linked to local work opportunities so teenagers could return home.__ NIC member Wesley Aird said while the connection to land was important, indigenous teenagers should expect to leave their remote homes to complete training courses.

24 Costello to force single mums to look for work?

2005-05-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

SINGLE mothers would be forced to look for work once their children reached school age, under a draconian welfare package outlined last night by fascist Pastor Peter Costello to bolster funds to spend on military hardware and the ongoing illegal and degrading war in Iraq. The Pastor also vowed to push ahead with slave labour reform; particularly the wider use of individual contracts, saying Australia must ensure that as widely as possible 'individual workplaces set individual outcomes'.

25 Australia Card by Default

2005-05-14T11:13:00.000-07:00

'In Germany they first came for the communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a protestant. Then they came for me and by that time no one was left to speak up.' - Pastor Martin Niemoller 25 Australia Card by Default The Government's proposed Medicare smartcard, already being trialled in Tasmania, will operate as a default Australia Card, according to Australian Democrats Spokesperson on Privacy, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja. Senator Stott Despoja said that, while the Government had strenuously denied it was moving towards a national identity card, Human Services Minister, Joe Hockey, had made it clear that the Government wants the new smartcard to operate as a key to a range of Government services. 'It might not be called an Australia Card, or a national identity card, but it is even more dangerous than the proposal we debated in the 1980s,' Senator Stott Despoja said. 'This card will not only provide access to a range of Government services, it will also contain highly sensitive information about the health records of individuals. 'Health-related information is among the most sensitive information that the Government holds and should be subject to the highest standards of privacy protection. 'The Government's proposal goes against the warnings and recommendations of the Federal Privacy Commissioner. 'Storing large amounts of sensitive information on the one card, as the Government is proposing, will increase the risk of that information falling into the wrong hands and being abused. Anyone with access to a persons Medicare card will be in a position to retrieve that person's health records.

26 Rio Tinto refuses to clarify WMC intentions

2005-05-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

(bgs note) Whichever corporation ends up with Roxby, there is plans for an expansion that will be triple its size and be open cut. The chairman of Rio Tinto, Paul Skinner, says while the company would consider buying other uranium assets, he cannot confirm speculation it is considering a counter-bid for WMC Resources. WMC, which controls 38 per cent of the world's known uranium, is under a $9.2 billion takeover bid from BHP Billiton. more @

27 France get out of Kakadu- No Mine@Koongarra

2005-05-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

The following letter was sent to the French Embassy yesterday by a number of environmental groups protesting against the involvement of Areva, a French government owned company, in a renewed bid for a uranium mine at Koongarra in Kakadu National Park. 26 April 2005 His Excellency the French Ambassador toAustralia,Mr Patrick Henault French Embassy 6 Perth AvenueYarralumla ACT 2600 Canberra We write as Australian environmental non-government organisations to bring to your attention our grave concern over the proposed development of the Koongarra uranium deposit near the world famous Aboriginal art site and tourist destination, Nourlangie Rock in the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park. The French government-owned company AREVA is the proponent of this mine. It has stated that it intends to seek development approval following the expiry on April 26, 2005 of the current development moratorium put in place as a result of the opposition of the area's traditional Aboriginal owners. The Koongarra deposit is entirely surrounded by Kakadu National Park and any mineral development at this site would: o severely impact on wetlands of international significance; o compromise the unique reputation and natural and cultural values of Kakadu; o impact on one of the most highly visited areas of Kakadu - Nourlangie Rock; o cause long term disruption to the management of the Park, and; o create long term problems of containment and rehabilitation of toxic and radioactive materials that will affect the area long after the closure of any mine. (letter excerpt from Peter Robertson David Sweeney Michaela Stubbs James Courtney Alec Marr, ECNT ACF FOE GREENPEACE TWS)

28 Shell Cove- Marina Plan Back To Court

2005-05-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

THE Shell Cove marina proposal heads back to the Land and Environment Court tomorrow as protesters continue their fight to stop the development. The court will hear an application that development consent for the marina has lapsed because no work was carried out within five years of the approval given in January 1997. The hearing comes amid separate claims that Shellharbour City Council could be in contempt of court after it cleared the Aboriginal tent embassy on the site last Thursday. The council switched tactics last week and dropped its Land and Environment Court action to remove one of the campers. That meant the council was no longer bound by an undertaking not to interfere with the campers while the application remained before the court. Instead, the council used its common law rights as owner of the land to clear the area on the basis camping on that site was illegal. The council said the unoccupied camping equipment was removed last Thursday, but protesters claim some tents were cleared earlier…. Mr Oshlack contended that last week's clearing of the embassy had provided him with further legal ammunition to press his case. 'An inspection of the land where the embassy was situated revealed 10 separate Aboriginal artefacts have been disturbed without consent,' he said. 'We've been putting together an affidavit for the litigation commencing Wednesday that this is in breach of the National Parks and Wildlife Act.' more @ http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/articles/2005/04/19/1113854171763.htm check the Late April archives on this blog or this website for further info Reclaim Shell Cove Embassy http://www.savelakecowal.org/shellcove.html

29 Tuarts Forest Forums

2005-05-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

These forums mentioned below are going to be very important for the future of our Tuarts. If you can't attend please e-mail your concerns or aspirations for the Tuart Forest to drewh (at) calm.wa.gov.au and cc to martinwa (at) netserv.net.au You might want to include things like: You are concerned about the Ludlow Tuart Forest because of *the mining operation *mining royalties not being spent at Ludlow *lack of a management plan *lack of resources to look after the forest *failure to control weeds *lack of regeneration of Tuart *sudden death of Tuarts *lack of understorey plants *declining possum numbers *general health of the forest *lack of understanding of the ecology of the forest *lack of publicly available information and anything else you might want include. If you feel strongly on the issue you could also copy the e-mail to the Minister for the Environment judy-edwards (at) dpc.wa.gov.au The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) is conducting two Public Forums to seek community input to the Government's draft Tuart Conservation and Management Strategy. The tuart (dodgy gov) strategy can be viewed @ They will be held in the evening at Busselton on Tuesday 10 May 2005 and at Lake Clifton on Tuesday 17 May 2005 - see attached details. http://www.naturebase.net

30 Save Palmer Block, WA

2005-05-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

near Collie, WA How much will they log? The Forest Products Commission has allocated an area of 290 ha to be logged. They estimate they will extract 12,100 m3 of high grade jarrah plus an unknown amount of 3rd grade wood. However, according to the Forest Management Plan, it could be four times the amount of high grade logs. When is logging due to start? They are expected to start logging in early March. If they start logging how long will it take? The loggers are expected to use a combination of chainsaws for the largest trees and a machine for the rest. This will speed up the process, however it would still take 3 months to complete the logging operation if it is allowed to go ahead. How would the logging be done? While the Forest Products Commission has still not provided the community with the logging plan, it is expected that most of the area will be clearfelled in 10 ha patches in which only 5 trees per hectare will be kept as habitat trees. How old is the forest? While there was some logging around 50 or more years ago, there are still many old growth trees that were left standing and these are estimated to be over 450 years old. More @ http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=10053 see April archives for more WA forests under threat

31/32 WashingtonWorldBankProtest photos&History of Mayday

2005-05-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

31 Washington World Bank Protest Photos For photos of protests against the World Bank in Washington, DC on April 16, please go to http://www.globaljusticeecology.org/index.php?name=news 32 History of MayDay find out about the origins of May Day, & the Haymarket Marytrs http://struggle.ws/ws95/may45.html

33 Announcing Activista- New Grassroots Search Engine!

2005-05-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

In cooperation with resist.ca and protest.net, riseup.net is proud to announce the launch of Activista, a search engine focused on activist resources and vegetarian/vegan recipes. Comprised exclusively of social change websites, Activista helps people quickly find the activist information they search for. As a added bonus, vegetarian recipe sites are included. Why? Because recipes are yummy! What can I do with Activista? Well, just type in the words or topics you want to find information about and then page through the results. No ads, no sponsored links, just radical goodness! Try it out at http://activista.org. But wait, there's more. A few of the many easy to use features include: - Advanced search page makes it easy to create targeted searches - Use our plugin to search directly from your browser (http://activista.org/plugin/) - A multi-language search interface. - Add an Activista search box to your website (you can also use this to search only your website). Why an activist search service? We believe there is a pressing need for a search engine with a focus on liberatory social change. For example, if you search for 'biotechnology' in a typical search engine, you get hundreds of entries for biotech corporations. With Activista, the same search returns pages of people working to expose the dangers of biotechnology. http://activista.org

LATE APRIL

2005-04-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

BLACKGREENSOLIDARITY UPDATES LATE APRIL 2005 This is the commonwealth’s last opportunity to avoid international prosecution. Stop the denial and resolve the issues of the Black G.S.T. The unfinished business is Genocide to be stopped. Sovereignty to be restored and a Treaty /s to be signed. We intend to make these issues and our presence the focus of the forthcoming Stolenwealth games in 2006. Aboriginal Elders from Geographic Australia, Tuesday 12 April 2005 1)RECLAIM SHELL COVE ABORIGINAL EMBASSY- YUIN NATION 2) INSPIRATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM CORROBOREE FOR SOVEREIGNTY 2005 @ ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY 3) LETTERS OF SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY 4) ABORIGINAL ELDER’ S GAMES BOYCOTT INTHE CANADIAN NEWS 5) BLACK GST- BOYCOTT THE STOLENWEALTH GAMES 6) CALL TO END GENOCIDE – LAST CHANCE FOR DOMESTIC JURISDICTION TO ACT 7) ONE LAND, ONE LAW, ONE SPIRIT - RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IS ALIVE AND WELL IN AUSTRALIA 8) KANGAROO AND EMU TRIAL UPDATE 9) THE REDFERN- WATERLOO PROJECT 10) SOUTH AFRICA- INSIDE THE NEW REVOLT 11) GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS ALERT 12) ABOUT THE FORGOTTEN CONFLICT IN WEST PAPUA 13) JAMES HARDIE ASBESTOS COMPENSATION & THE BARYULGIL COMMUNITY 14) SORRY DAY EVENTS BRISBANE 15) 30A CALL TO ACTION- FORBES GLOBAL CEO CONFERENCE @ SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE 16) SYDNEY MAYDAY RALLY 17) ANTI BASES CAMPAIGN COALITION 18) PEACE CONVERGENCE @ SHOALWATER BAY 19) THE ENVIRONMENT MOVEMENT &VSU 20) OTWAY RANGES STILL UNDER THREAT 21) STOP THE BOMBS PEACE WALK VISITS 3 MILE ISLAND 22) FREE LEONARD PELTIER 23) TIMOR SEA JUSTICE UPDATE 24) POSTSCRIPT OF NOTE SEVEN INDIGENOUS NATION TREATISE IN NORTHERN NSW BLACK GREEN SOLIDARITY UPDATES LATE APRIL 05 Send short updates or weblinks to sustainablesnail@riseup.net 1___RECLAIM SHELL COVE ABORIGINAL EMBASSY___ Camping gear and supplies are needed for the Embassy. Contact Uncle Dootch for help/donations on: 0413 736 742 The Shell Cove Aboriginal Embassy was illegally evicted on Friday 15th April, with Embassy supporters expelled from the site , and their personal belongings and camping gear stolen. Yuin elder Roy Kennedy (Uncle Dootch) from the Kuradji Embassy has put an urgent call out for people ASAP to show solidarity by joining the camp @ Bellambi Point. Ongoing support will be needed to enable the protection of threatened Sacred Sites. The Shell Cove Aboriginal Embassy, south of Wollongong, is in Yuin country, and is set up to protect Sacred Aboriginal Sites that are threatened by a 200 birth Marina. “They want to disturb 4000 burial sites to put in 200 boats” The disrespect shown to Aboriginal culture, in the search of the almighty dollar, needs to stop. Destruction of cultural artifacts and s acred burial sites is illegal under international genocide conventions. This development threatens coastal and estuary ecosystems and threatens a chain reaction of consequences for surrounding natural systems. There are a number of sacred Aboriginal sites that need protection from “developments”. (destruction). Bellambi Point Aboriginal Embassy is set up out of concern for sewerage outfall and developments that threaten the natural waterways of the area. http://www.savelakecowal.org/shellcove.html 2___INSPIRATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM CORROBOREE FOR SOVEREIGNTY 2005@ THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY___ Inspirational communications from the elders at Corroboree for Sovereignty2005, held annually at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra. For a report of the occasion goto http://www.abc.net.au/message/blackarts/culture/s1302892.htm The highlight of Invasion Day is the opportunity to sit and listen to elders from various nations, and their passionate and informative holistic stories keep the many attendees transfixed even under the blazing midday sun. Some of these speeches and some other interviews were recorded by Fiona Hogg from 4zZzfm in Brisbane and are available for listening and downloading @ http://radio.indymedia.org/news/03/4125.php 3___LETTERS OF SUPPORT NEEDED FOR ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY___ Indigenous People need to speak up for the continuing survival of the Tent Embassy, the political platform for all Indigenous Nations of geographic Australia in Canberra, located in Ngunnawal country The call is out requesting letters of support for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. The government continues to work to divide communities with the newest Minister for Territories Jim Lloyd and Liberal ACT Senator Gary Humphries in need of reminding of the importance and continued necessity of the Embassy as a place for the Sovereign Peoples and their supporters to gather and lead the way to real recognition, respect, justice and peace. Also the Heritage Listing of the ATE is under threat in a process of the delisting of all sites, and they need to re-apply. More info and a form letter will be available in the near future. Send letters to: senator.humphries@aph.gov.au, heritage@deh.gov.au , your local paper, and a copy to the Tent Embassy. 4___ABORIGINAL ELDER’ S GAMES BOYCOTT HITS THE CANADIAN NEWS___ Aboriginal elders threaten to disrupt Commonwealth Games in Australia Last Updated Sat, 16 Apr 2005 15:42:45 EDT CBC News SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - Aboriginal leaders in Australia are threatening to disrupt next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne unless the country's prime minister and other senior officials are charged with genocide. Indigenous elders have lodged a legal complaint with the country's highest court calling for the government to be investigated for crimes against native Australians. Aboriginal groups say they will target the Games as part of their campaign for justice. Campaigners are claiming that Australia's conservative government is not only failing to address the suffering of the indigenous population but is doing so on purpose. They want Prime Minister John Howard as well as the federal attorney general and the police commissioner to face charges of genocide. Aboriginal leaders say that in recent years, there has been a deliberate and systematic destruction of native people. Aborigines suffer disproportionately high rates of early death, imprisonment and unemployment in Australia. Poverty has caused many communities to self-destruct through the abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as gasoline sniffing. The Australian government says spending on indigenous health care is at record levels and there are more Aboriginal students entering post-secondary education. Seniors ministers insist that Aboriginal issues are a priority. One indigenous elder, Isabelle Coe, says if the High Court decides not to pursue these genocide claims, there could be mass protests at next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Campaigners are also calling on countries to consider boycotting the event over the treatment of Australia's aborigines. http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/04/16/australia-aborigines050416.html 5___BLACK GST- BOYCOTT THE STOLENWEALTH GAMES___ The Black GST Genocide Sovereignty Treaty The Black GST campaign to boycott and protest at the 2006 Melbourne "Stolenwealth" Games was launched on 26th January 2005 in Melbourne. The Black GST Collective would be contacting numerous groups interstate over the next few months inviting them to consider focussing on a campaign of a boycott and protest in Melbourne in 2006. For further info and to get your Black GST T-Shirt send an email to:- gst2006@hotmail.com http://www.kooriweb.org/gst 6___CALL TO END GENOCIDE – LAST CHANCE FOR DOMESTIC JURISDICTION TO ACT___ Indigenous Elders from geographic Australia are lodged a writ of mandamus at High Court Registry in Melbourne at 10.00am Wednesday 13 April 2005, directing the defendants to investigate and prosecute key perpetrators (including top government officials) of acts of Genocide committed against Original Peoples of geographic Australia on 26 September 2002 and daily thereafter.STORY @ http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=9831&PHPSESSID=a223088d93d42899e23c28cfcf32c961 MORE DETAIL http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=default&featureview=196 7___ONE LAND, ONE LAW, ONE SPIRIT___ RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IS ALIVE AND WELL IN AUSTRALIA We are seeking your support for our call on people of all religious denominations to recognise the rights of aboriginal people to practice our own religious/spiritual beliefs as under section 116 of the constitution, the same abilities as all other religions that have been brought here. “We have walked and talked with the creator since the beginning of time, the story of creation in the bible was nothing new to us, and we embraced it because we new it was connected to what we had, even though they showed no respect for our knowledge.” Nana Wadjularbinna. “How can they pretend to be Christian if they continue to let genocide happen to Aboriginal people in this country.” Aunty Sue Signed, Suzanne (Charles) Rankin Wadjularbinna Nulyarimma Jaara person of the Kulin Nation Gungalidda elder 0431 143 065 0432 525 072 For more information on genocide, visit http://www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au Fell free to lobby on our behalf, or make an effort to learn more about the issue raised in the statement. Appreciate the opportunity to stand humbly by the god-given custodians of country. Learn from ancient wisdom. Respect Aboriginality. MORE @ http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/90991.php 8___KANGAROO AND EMU TRIAL UPDATE___ The Queen vs. Kevin BuzzacotT Verdict Arabunna Elder and Indigenous Activist Kevin Buzzacott has been handed a 12 month good behaviour bond for reclaiming the Coat of Arms, representing the totems Kangaroo and Emu, from the Old Parliament House. Over a dozen cops forcibly arrested Uncle Kevin Tuesday night from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra after he failed to appear in court due to ill health. http://sydney.indymedia.org/archive/features/2005/04/2005-04.html#10275 Reclaim the Stolen Totems on Coins http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/90953.php 9___THE REDFERN-WATERLOO PROJECT?___ I'm shocked. Usually when people draw comparisons between Australia and apartheid (as visiting South African activist-musician Vusi Mahlasela did this week (1)) I think, perhaps a little defensively, "it's not really like that here. Not anymore. Not now." And so I am shocked, shocked and ashamed, to hear a 21st century NSW government, and a labour government at that, arguing once again to move Australia's oldest kernel of Indigenous urban culture out. Out of the way. Out of the centre. Out of sight. http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=54346&group=webcast to join the Redfern-Waterloo email list send blank email to Redfern-Waterloo-SUBSCRIBE@yahoogroups.com 10___SOUTH AFRICA- INSIDE THE NEW REVOLT___ Obedience Doesn't Pay: inside the new revolt by richard pithouse Sunday March 27, 2005 pithouser@ukzn.ac.za "We have no land. Most of us have no jobs. We are just rotting here. When the police come they make fools of us. We can't control the people - they get angry. They burnt tyres and mattresses in the road. They say we have committed public violence but against which public? If we are not the public then who is the public and who are we? [City manager Mike] Sutcliffe talks to the Tribune about us but he doesn't speak to us. All they do is send the police every time we ask to talk. It is a war…… http://southafrica.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/7840.php 11___GLOBAL ECOSYSTEMS ALERT___ Global Ecosystems Again Shown to Be Perilously Imperiled, Now Is Time for Action http://forests.org/action/alert.asp?id=world The Earth is Dying: World Ruination Is at Hand Ecological Sustainability Matter of Life and Death - Are you Ready? April 11, 2005 By Dr. Glen Barry, The Earth is dying, and most of her species, including humans, are heading towards extinction. Species dying. Biological life arrayed in complex ecological splendor that set the conditions for life is threatened as never before. Forever gone. World ruination is at hand. MORE @ http://earthmeanders.blogspot.com/ JOIN THE INTERNET EMAIL ACTION @ http://forests.org/action/alert.asp?id=world#sendemail 12___ THE FORGOTTEN CONFLICT IN WEST PAPUA___ Rape of a Nation by Jakarta IMC Editorial Group - Jakarta IMC Thursday, Mar 31 2005, About the forgotten concflict in West Papua West Papua… Some people even never heard of the place, let alone know that there’s a conflict going over there that perfectly examplifies the ‘current state of the world address’. A culture is destroyed just to serve the needs of our ‘civilization’. Just like so many other forgotten atrocities, this one has to be made public. Spread the word!! http://jakarta.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=130 13___JAMES HARDIE ASBESTOS COMPENSATION & THE BARYULGIL COMMUNITY___ ABC News Online Last Update: Friday, April 15, 2005. 2:48pm (AEST) James Hardie fund to include Indigenous community The James Hardie company has announced that members of the Baryulgil Aboriginal community on the New South Wales north coast will be able to claim compensation for asbestos diseases. Members of the community were concerned there would be no compensation for workers of the Baryugil mine, which James Hardie owned between 1944 and 1976. James Hardie sold the mine - trading under the name Asbestos Mines Pty Ltd -to Woodsreef Mines Ltd, which is now known as Mineral Commodities Ltd. Asbestos Mines is now in liquidation. James Hardie says today's announcement should allay community fears that it would not be eligible for compensation through the Special Purpose Fund (SPF). It says that once an agreement is reached with the New South Wales Government on a long-term funding deal, the Baryugil community will be included. "James Hardie does not expect the decision to include Baryugil in the SPF to significantly increase the total value of claims already factored into the SPF funding arrangements," the company said in a statement. James Hardie estimates that the mine employed about 350 people during The time it owned it and the population of the town was about 100 to 200 people. The potential liabilities of Asbestos Mines was not included in the original Heads of Agreement that James Hardie reached with the New South Wales Government. The company says that was because no participants sought to do so. The community will soon hear the results of lung testing done recently By the state's Dust Diseases Board. 14___SORRY DAY EVENTS BRISBANE___ NEXT MEETING_WEDNESDAY APRIL 20TH 11AM -12 NOON JAGERA ARTS HALL 121 CORDELIA STREET, SOUTH BRISBANE ALL WELCOME - PLEASE INVITE ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING Contact Gillian Brannigan on 33772242 or g.brannigan@uq.edu.au for further information regarding Sorry Day Events. Just to briefly catch everyone up with what we have been planning and hearing that others are planning I will try to provide brief summary: Friday May 20th - An evening ceremony at the Bringing Them Home Memorial Plaque in King George Square followed by nightly candlelight vigils each evening until Wednesday May 25th (information and promotional materials for the National Day of Healing will also be distributed at the vigils - we need volunteers to help with the vigils) Thursday May 26th - Dawn Ceremonies are being planned at the Bringing Them Home Memorial Plaques around Brisbane at Kalinga Park (Nundah), Sherwood Arboretum, Orleigh Park (West End) and one at Wynnum. there is also a plaque atMitchelton which has not been 'adopted' in the same way that the other plaques have but it seems that a few people may be able to organsie a small ceremony there this year (please let us know if you could help with this!) Link-Up (Qld) National Sorry Day commemorations and community day at Roma Street Parklands from 9am - 3pm. There will be special guest speakers information stalls, displays, food and entertainment for young and old including the Link-Up (Qld) Support Group Choir who will also being selling artworks by the Support Group and their poetry book and other items. Saturday May 28th - Rally and Walk for Healing followed by a Family Day at Jagera Arts Hall. Starts at Roma Street Forum at 10am - bring your hat and a bottle of water. There will be speakers, food, entertainment and activities for all ages at the Family Day. There are also events being organised at the University of Queensland such the annual Sorry Dinner on May 27th and I will email these details as soon as they are finalised. There will probably be other events announced closer to the time so we'll try and keep you posted. In the meantime enjoy our second national newsletter and let me know if you haven't already got a copy of the first edition! Cheers to all, Gillian ANTaR Qld Association IncOffice 10, 25-27 Cordelia Street South Brisbane Qld 4101 Tel 07 3844 9800Fax 07 3844 9562 email: antarqld@dovenetq.net.au web: http://www.antarqld.org.au 15___30A CALL TO ACTION- FORBES GLOBAL CEO CONFERENCE @ SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE___ 6:30pm, Wed, 27 April @ Gaelic Club Come and help plan actions to coincide with the 5th Annual Forbes Global CEO Conference, which is being held from 30 Aug to 1 Sep at the Opera House and involving 300+ of the world's "top" CEOs. [where] Level 3, Gaelic Club, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills [transport] 50m from Central train station. [contact] Damien 0419 253 342 or Vince 0438 800 244 [email] info@30a.org [web address] http://www.30A.org/ 16___SYDNEY MAYDAY RALLY___ MAY DAY march and rally @ Hyde Park North, Sydney 11:00am on Sunday, 1 May Contact: Warren Smith on (02) 9264 5024 Transport: Train to St James Station, Bus to Elizabeth St. Support the right of workers to organise collectively, and defend the gains made by unions for working people and their families. Rally 11am, May 1, Hyde Park Nth Sydney. With control of both houses of parliament later starting in June, the Howard government will try to pass a raft of anti union bills. We need to build support for unions in the community and in thestreets. Support the right of workers to organise collectively, and defend the gains made by unions for working people and their families. Unionists and supporters of unions are asked to assemble from 11am, Sunday 1st May,2005 in Hyde Park North with the march starting at 12PM [ + Aboriginal rapper Jakalene Extreme at the May Day Toast ] Jamming the ADF Billboards http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/07/74504.php 17___THE ENVIRONMENT MOVEMENT &VSU___ Did you know that Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) is an attack on students rights? Did you know VSU is an attack on student environment collectives and the student environment movement? Did you know VSU affects the whole environment movement in Australia and will have enormous implications for future campaigns on environmental issues? CALLING ALL ENVIRONMENTALISTS..... APRIL 28TH IS THE NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST VSU THERE ARE RALLIES AND FESTIVAL S PLANNED IN EVERY CAPITAL CITY ANDMAJOR REGIONAL CENTRES IN AUSTRALIA... Melbourne meet 2pm State Library -festival at 3.30pm Treasury Gardens Sydney meet UTS 12pm, Railway Square 1pm then festival at Sydney Uni Perth meet 12.30pm at the Parliament House Brisbane meet 2.30 at King George Square then festival at QUT Adelaide meet 12pm at Adelaide Uni 18___ANTI BASES CAMPAIGN COALITION___ FORWARDED MESSAGE I just want you to know and others on your lists that there is a very effective and long standing group working on the issue in Australia. It is called:The Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition website: http://www.anti-bases.org Your lists ought to know that the just about every munition landed on Iraq andAfghanistan were guided there by PINE Gap. Your lists ought to know that there are going to be three new bases commissioned in Australia in the near future. Yours lists ought to know we are planning a peace convergence on Rockhampton soon to protest the new base there and fact that US and oz troops are practicing for nextaggression. Denis Doherty National Coordinator AABCC 19___PEACE CONVERGENCE @ SHOALWATER BAY___ Peace Convergence at Shoalwater Bay June 8 - 12, 2005 Hi Everyone, The Brisbane Anti-Bases Group met last night and have decided to propose a peace convergence @ Shoalwater Bay Basically this would break down into: June 8 & 9 (Weds, Thu) workshop, preparation and meeting space. June 10-12 (Fri- Sun) Days of Action as decided by group - affinity groups. After further discussion nationally and with people of the region we will decide where to set up a base camp space somewhere in the Rockhampton-Shoalwater Bay region Oh yes, we also have a Peace Convergence phone number. The messages will be checked regularly. . Convergence #:: 0401 301 614 Peace,Robin Taubenfeld Brisbane Anti-Bases Group 20___OTWAY RANGES STILL UNDER THREAT ___ Yvonne Francis, veteran Otway forest campaigner was arrested today by officers from the Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) in a logging coupe near Asplin Creek. Asplin Creek is a tributary of Gellibrand River that supplies water to the Warrnambool region. Ms Francis was also arrested in 1984 protecting Apollo Bay 's water supply in the West Barham catchment. Ms Francis was with members of Otway Environment Council and several visitors walking along Asplin Creek Road . They found it freshly bulldozed down to the creek as part of logging operations on the North Anchor coupe. Ms Francis said ‘The absence of any drainage on roadwork so close to the creek shows that logging prescriptions in the Otways have once again been broken. I am extremely concerned that silting and sedimentation will occur when autumn rain washes the disturbed soil…. read the latest Quoll Patrol News at http://www.ecorevolt.forests.org.au/spz.htm 21___STOP THE BOMBS PEACE WALK VISITS 3 MILE ISLAND___ Harrisburg. PA- On Monday, April 18, 2005, an international group of about 35 people, including 3 Buddhist Monks and 1 Buddhist Nun, will hold a peace vigil outside the 3 Mile Island nuclear reactor in Harrisburg . The "Stop the Bombs International Peace Walk" will depart from the Baughman United Methodist Church in New Cumberland around 8am and travel 15 miles on foot to arrive at 3-Mile Island around 3pm. After an interfaith prayer vigil ,they will continue on to the Grace United Methodist Church in Harrisburg. They are visiting the plant as part of their 7-week pilgrimage from the gates of the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to the UN Headquarters in New York City. http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/90932.php Stop the Bombs Peace Walk Say Free Uncle KEvin http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/04/90526.phpegr of Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, New Caledonia, 22___FREE LEONARD PELTIER___ In an ongoing legal battle with the Minneapolis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), lawyers for political prisoner Leonard Peltier will argue in court on Friday, April 15, 2005, for the release of some 90,000 pages of information contained in an investigation file opened by the Bureau nearly 30 years ago. A participant in the American Indian Movement, Peltier went to assist the Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where, on June 26, 1975, a tragic shoot out occurred. He was wrongfully convicted in the deaths of two FBI agents &, despite the courts' acknowledgment of FBI & prosecutorial misconduct in the case, has been imprisoned since 1976, currently at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. The 60-year-old activist for Indigenous Rights has been designated a political prisoner by Amnesty International & was nominated for the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize. His case was documented by renowned author Peter Matthiessen (In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Viking Press, 1983) & in several films, including Incident at Oglala, produced by actor Robert Redford. Peltier's supporters plan to return to Pine Ridge to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the tragic shoot out on June 26. At Friday's hearing, Kuzma said, the Peltier legal team will argue vigorously that all withheld materials should have been turned over at the Peltier trial 28 years ago.. Sign our Parole Petition http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/parole2008 Write in support of Executive Clemency http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/Clemency.html Pass a Resolution http://www.peltiersupport.org/Welcome/Resolution2004-2008.html Lawyer Contact: Barry Bachrach, Esquire; Bowditch & Dewey, 311 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01615;(508) 926-3403 or bbachrach@bowditch.com 23___TIMOR SEA JUSTICE UPDATE___ http://www.timorseajustice.org NEXT ROUND OF TALKS The next round of maritime boundary negotiations between the Australian and East Timorese Governments, have been scheduled to take place in Dili on the 26th, 27th and 28th of April. The talks are expected to focus on details of the proposed creative solution in which the Australian Government has reportedly offered $3-4 billion in return for East Timor postponing its claims of sovereignty for up to 100 years. A protest will be held by the Timor Sea Justice Campaign outside of Melbournes DFAT offices at 2 Lonsdale St on Tuesday the 26th of April at 12 noon.(More info to come.) Actions are also being planned in the other capital cities. MEETINGS Melbourne: The Timor Sea Justice Campaign, Melbourne meets every two weeks in the Evatt Room of Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria St, Carlton. The next meeting will be held 6:30 on Wednesday the 27th of April. (A special meeting to organise the April 26th Rally, will be held in the Trades Hall bar next Wednesday the 20th at 6:30pm.) Sydney: Australia-East Timor Association (NSW) Monthly Meetings are the fourth Wednesday of each month in Room 310, Level 3, Tower Building, Uni of Technology , Broadway between 6.30pm and 9pm. Contact: Stephen Langford (02) 9331-5986 Our colour brochures are still available to order. Please email tom@timorseajustice.org or find online at: http://www.timorseajustice.org/documents/TSJC_brochure_nonprintformat.pdf Sydney events… The DILI ALL STARS are playing at the Bondi Hotel, Sydney, Sat 23 April Elaine Brieres Docos/book launch. (Documentary about East Timor.) Valhalla Cinema, Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Thursday May 12th 6-7.30pm To join the Black Green Solidarity email list http://www.lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/blackgreensolidarity Seven NSW Indigenous nations seek union Goodooga, Northern NSW, 12 April â?? Aboriginal leaders and elders from seven nations in New South Wales are to meet on 22 April to form a union of Aboriginal Nations. â??We are all sick and tired of the pretended and the appointed leadership who dictate on matters that affect our lives,â?? says Michael Anderson, leader of the Euahlay-I Nation, in a release to the media. â??It is our intention to treatise with all the Nations in order to form a bonded set of objectives which will carry us forward on our march to self-determination.â?? He is convening to Moree, northern NSW, the Euahlay-I, the Anaiwon of the New England tablelands, the Goombangeil of the Nymboida river area, the Dthun-gaddi of the Macleay River, the eastern Gumilaroi, central Gumilaroi and western Gumilaroi and the Murrawarri of the North West of New South Wales. MORE @ http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=9826 MORE LINKS Volume 1, Black Green Solidarity Updates April 2005 http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=9684 Volume 2, Black Green Solidarity Updates April 2005 http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=9685 BlackGreenSolidarity Updates March 2005 http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89547.php www.lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/blackgreensolidarity

APRIL UPDATES

2005-04-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

BLACK GREEN SOLIDARITY UPDATES APRIL 2005 An independent compilation of news from the Indigenous and Environmental Struggle across the continent contact sustainablesnail@riseup.net 1) Uncle Kevin Buzzacott vs. The Queen in the Kangaroo and Emu Case 2) Cape Barren Island Aborigines Celebrate Return of Their Ancestral Lands 3) Palm Island Inquest Begins 4) Stolen Wages Compo Deal an Insult & more background info 5) Kumbutjil Association, One Mile Dam Community (NT) 6) Female Death in Custody, Bathurst 7) Burning The Sacred Fire, Indigenous Woman’s Tour 8) Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta, Irati Wanti, Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win 9) Baxter Convergence, Protesters Attacked,& Indigenous Solidarity rally 10) Much Needed Solidarity with West Papua 11) Logging in Aceh & Papua 12) East Gippsland Action and Events 2005 13) Save the Tuarts, Ludlow Forest, (WA) 14) Respect Sacred Windarling (WA) 15) The Black GST-Genocide,Sovereignty,Treaty &the Stolenwealth Games 16) Worldwide Indigenous Petition to the UN& Indigenous Support website 17) Save Sacred Gulaga Mountain from logging 18) Two Fires Festival Ignites Braidwood 19) Is Pangaea back under another name & other nuke news 20) Saving the Bay&Cultural Heritage –Channel Deepening Stalled (melb) 21) Lake Cowal Legal Update March 2005 22) Letter from Kiribati – Pacific Environmental Lessons 23) Aboriginal Resistance History Timeline 24) Reclaiming an Indigenous History_Book Launched 25) Digitizing the Dreamtime 26) ATSIC is no longer 27) Geneva vs. Canberra 28) Indigenous Legal Service Investigation (NT) 29) Indian NGO supporting Indigenous Tribal Culture 30) Some New website links The Black Green Solidarity Update April 2005 is published in three volumes check next posts for the rest of the update news from around the continent BlackGreenSolidarity Events List April 2005 http://www.envirotalk.com.au/forum/index.php?s=c526bb42d5641cd0dfb334996098b852&showtopic=3891 BlackGreenSolidarity Updates March 2005 http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89547.php To join the Black Green Solidarity email list http://www.lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/blackgreensolidarity 1)___UNCLE KEVIN BUZZACOTT VS. THE QUEEN IN THE KANGAROO AND EMU CASE ___ Kevin Buzzacott v The Queen- Trial Report by Chris Littlejohn 10:36am Thu Mar 31 '05akrisalis@yahoo.com.au - http://www.AboriginalGenocide.com.au/ The Coat of Arms trial continues in the ACT Supreme Court. Here is a report of the proceedings so far. Canberra - 31 March, 2005 The trials of Kevin Buzzacott continue, this time in the ACT Supreme Court. The Crown argues that Mr Buzzacott dishonestly appropriated a bronze coat of arms with the intention of permanently depriving the commonwealth of its property. Mr Buzzacott does not deny removing the coat of arms from a pillar outside Old Parliament House. He is shown in video evidence taking the coat of arms back to the Aboriginal Embassy. Ceremonies were then held to celebrate its return to Aboriginal peoples, and the coat of arms placed on public display in front of the ceremonial fire. more… http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89934.php For further information on court proceedings http://www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/ URGENT FUNDS NEEDED... The costs of flights, getting around in canberra,photocopying, some food and maybe some accomodationare easily expected to exceed $600. At present, we have$0 and have exhausted many avenues. It would be great to see some supporters in Canberra over the time of the trial too!! ! This is a cutting edge case fighting Aboriginal genocide - make no mistake! Please give generously to help this case continue and encourage those you know to be sympathetic to also! The temporary account details are; St George Freedom Cheque Account BSB:112879 ACC: 067440852 There is a fundraiser being planned for late April/ early May in Melbourne, and another being planned in Amsterdam! (many thanx to ney for following) Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna Elder 1998 - Uncle Kevin relights the fire at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy 1999 - Uncle Kevin has a protest camp in Arabunna Country, Lake Eyre, protesting the expansion of Roxby Downs, Olympic Dam Uranium mine. 1999-2000 After WMC bulldozes the camp, Uncle Kevin, frustrated with the lack of response from the government, takes the protest to Adelaide, setting up genocide corner opposite the governers house. After three weeks he is arrested for 'loitering.' 2000- Uncle Kevin leads a walk from Lake Eyre to Sydney, meeting up with the Olympic Games to raise awareness and for "our ancient right." 2001- Uncle Kevin wins the International Award for Nuclear Resistance. He is flown to Ireland for ceremony. This is the first time he has left this country. 2002 - At the 30th Anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Corroberee for Sovereignty, a group of elders, led by Uncle Kevin, decide to reclaim the sacred totem animals, the kangaroo and emu from old parliament house. Offended by the misuse of these symbols, and the lack of acknowledgement Aboriginal people have received from the government. So, there is a context. Furthermore, this is one of the three forefront legal cases being put through the courts which brings issues of aboriginal genocide back on to the agenda. Len is the lawyer to all of these cases. The other two are with Robbie Thorpe, and Nanna Wadjillabinna. For more information on the legal proceedings go to the legal reference site; http://www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au PHILLIP RUDDOCK SUBPEONED IN KANGAROO AND EMU CASE A nice thing to note about this case is, Phil Ruddock has been sub-peoned (he has been served) and the judge has ruled in favour a few times that government officials should show proof of consent to use these totem animals on the coat of arms. Uncle Kev makes the news... Coat of Arms trial opens in Canberra The trial of an Aboriginal activist charged with stealing a bronze Coat of Arms from outside Old Parliament House in Canberra has started in the ACT Supreme Court. http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1333598.htm Melbourne Indymedia have a front page feature on Uncle Kevin Buzzacott vs. The Queen. (scroll dowm if no longer @ top of page) http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89934.php (top article in full) Uncle Kev wins international Nuclear Free Future Award http://www.nuclear-free.com/english/buzzacott.htm Keepers of Lake Eyre http://www.lakeeyre.green.net.au Uncle Kevin Buzzacott’s court documents (& other genocide court cases) http://www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au 2___CAPE BARREN ISLAND ABORIGINES CELEBRATE THE RETURN OF THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS___ Island families torn By Ellen Whinnett and Danny Rose March 28, 2005 CAPE Barren Island Aborigines in Tasmania are celebrating the return of their ancestral lands with a promise their white neighbours will always be welcome. But the transfer has left many residents of neighbouring Flinders Island deeply concerned, saying their cultural links to their island home have been severed. Some white residents of the Furneaux Group islands say the decision has torn families apart and the wounds could take generations to heal. But many of Cape Barren Island's fluctuating population of about 60 Aborigines say their white neighbours will continue to be welcomed on their island. They also say a bold new vision for the windswept, 48,000ha island in eastern Bass Strait is being prepared and it could have tourism as its foundation. Last week's passage of the government's handback Bill will allow the title for almost all of Cape Barren Island's crown land to be transferred to the Launceston-based statutory body Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania. But the Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association will oversee the land's day-to-day management…. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12676140-1244,00.html Move sparks conflict among Aborigines http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12676422-1244,00.html Call to declare on land transfer March 29, 2005 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12688014-1244,00.html 3___PALM ISLAND INQUEST TO BEGIN___ ABC News Online, 29 March 2005 Palm Island death in custody hearing to begin Lawyers for the family of a Palm Island man who died while in police custody last November will begin making submissions at a hearing in Brisbane today ahead of a second inquest….. http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1274&storyid=2881830 Palm Island inquiry begins March 29, 2005 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12674426-1248,00.html Police centre attacked in Palm IslandBy Jason Gregory March 28, 2005 TENSIONS between Palm Island locals and police continue after attacks on the policecompound again yesterday – the fifth time officers have been targeted in a month. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12674426-1248,00.html Doomadgee family pushes for interpreters at inquest The World Today - Tuesday, 29 March , 2005 12:36:47 http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1333510.htm Calls for inquest to move March 30, 2005 From: AAP LAWYERS for a police officer at the centre of the Palm Island death in custody wantthe inquest heard away from the trouble spot because of fears of violence. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12702732-1248,00.html ___PALM ISLAND PETITION___ Below is a petition form letter asking for a full inquiry into the recent death in custody of the man in Palm Island…If you cut and paste onto ms word print, sign, send, you’ll be adding to the pressure of write your own to the below address. Brad Foster, Chair Carpentaria Land Council, 31-33 Commercial Rd, Mt Isa Q 4825. To His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. The petition of the Palm Island Aboriginal Community & Friends draws to the attention of His Excellency the recent death in custody of an Aboriginal manon Palm Island your petitioners therefore pray that His Excellency (pursuant to his powers of authority as stated in the Royal Commission Act 1902)initiates a Royal Commission investigation into the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee, particularly; a. The circumstances that led to the arrest of Mulrunji Doomadgee. b. The conduct of the Queensland Police Service Officer's (including Police Liaison Officers/ DOGIT Community Police) during the period that Mulrunji Doomadgee was being detained. c. The circumstances that led to the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee. d. The conduct of Queensland Police Service after the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee. 4___STOLEN WAGE COMPO DEAL AN INSULT___ Stolen Wage compo deal an insult http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,12674673,00.html BACKGROUND (from the survey text): The Queensland Government has made a capped reparations offer of $55.6 million to Aboriginal & Islander people whose wages and savings were held for them in trust by previous governments. The offer amounts to fixed payments of $2000 or $4000 to individual claimants alive after 9 May 2002, which was the day the offer was first made. Families of deceased workers cannot apply. Some elderly claimants were forced to work for more than 20 years with limited access to their wages and savings, most of which have not been repaid. The offer requires claimants to sign an indemnity to say they will not take any further action to recover what might be owed. Even if they have records to prove it, they cannot claim all their money without taking the Government to court. The offer closes at the end of 2005. History of Stolen Wages (from ENIAR) http://www.eniar.org/action/stolen.html Stolen Wages Fact Sheet (from AIATSIS) http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/fct_shts/stolen_wages.htm Get Involved! Return the Stolen Wages! (from QLD ANTAR) http://antar.dovenetq.net.au/05_involved/action.html Stolen Wages, A Campaign for Justice http://www.qtu.asn.au/2354.html Stolen Wages- more info & Native American Stolen Wages link http://www.brumbywatchaustralia.com/WelcomeFraser21.htm Courier-Mail 28mar05 Stolen wage compo deal 'an insult' Margaret Wenham ONLY about 7600 Aboriginal people who had their wages stolen from them lastcentury have applied so far to take advantage of the State Government's $55.6 million reparations deal which closes at the end of this year. Of those who have applied, just under 3800 - as at March 14 - had been paid. Between 16,000 and 20,000 Queensland Aborigines are thought to have been affected by state policies that saw their wages, savings and social security benefits, such as child endowment and war pensions, confiscated. According to feisty stolen wages campaigner, Yvonne Butler, the reason so few have come forward is that the offer - which amounts to fixed payments of$2000 or $4000 to individual claimants alive after May 9, 2002, the day the offer was first made - is "an insult"…. http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,12674673,00.html ___Stolen Wages Survey___ I have a PDF version of the survey (about 40kb) if you would like a copy andit will also be available from the ANTaR Qld website (http://www.antarqld.org.au) within the next few days. cheers...Christine Stolen Wages Campaign Working Group From Media Release 31 March 2005 "Ordinary" Queenslanders will have the opportunity to have their say about what they think of the Government?s 'lousy little offer' for Aboriginal peoples? stolen wages over the next few weeks. Elder Yvonne Butler, a successful applicant who refuses to claim her $4000, said the survey was an opportunity to identify how the Aboriginal community really felt about the offer. "We believe the majority of applicants haven’t come forward and this is a chance to try and find out why," she said. 5___KUMBUTJIL ASSOCIATION, ONE MILE DAM COMMUNITY___ Kumbutjil Association http://onemiledam.org/ Kumbutjil News http://onemiledam.tripod.com Aboriginal matters are becoming an election issue here. http://darwin.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=3984 & http://darwin.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=3798 The paternalist stuff by Egan at least delivers the news that things are terribly wrong here for Aboriginal people. We'll be addressing his views soon.- solidarity, OMD mob, via mick. 6__ABORIGINAL FEMALE DIES IN CUSTODY, BATHURST__ ABC NEWS ONLINE Australia : NSW : Orange Thursday, 24 March 2005. 10:22 (AEDT) Bathurst death in custody prompts political stoush The Department of Corrective Services says an Aboriginal woman who was found dead in her cell yesterday morning at Bathurst Jail, in central western New South Wales, was adequately monitored during her stay at the prison. The 27-year-old was taken into custody on Saturday and spent two days in the detoxification unit inside the jail before being placed in a cell with another woman….. http://abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/orange/200503/s1330694.htm an informative reply to the above story from Jim Duffield" jim@kultcher.com To: Redfern-Waterloo@yahoogroups.com Yes, she was interviewed and monitored, but was a graduate professional Aboriginal Health Worker involved in the process????????? See Recommendations: 261. That the use of Aboriginal hospital liaison officers be expanded in hospitals which serve Aboriginal patients and that they be seen and used as respected members of the therapeutic team. (4:262) 262. That the States recognise the contributions of Aboriginal Health Workers and in so doing review the Northern Territory's experience of the establishment of appropriate career structures and the registration of them. (4:262) 263. That where there is a high level of non-compliance by a range of Aboriginal patients with advice tendered to them by health professionals, the health professionals should examine their styles of operation with a view to checking whether those styles can be improved. (4:262) 264, That: a. There be a substantial expansion in Aboriginal mental health services within the framework of the development, on the basis of community consultation, of a new national mental health policy; b. There be close scrutiny by those developing the national policy of the number of models that exist for such expansion; and c. Aboriginal people be fully involved in the policy development and implementation process. (4:262) 265. That as an immediate step towards overcoming the poorly developed level of mental health services for Aboriginal people priority should be given to complementing the training of psychiatrists and other non-Aboriginal mental health professionals with the development of a cadre of Aboriginal health workers with appropriate mental health training, as well as their general health worker training. The integration of the two groups, both in their training and in mental health service delivery, should receive close attention. In addition, resources should be allocated for the training and employment of Aboriginal mental health workers by Aboriginal health services. (4:262) 266. That the linking or integrating of mental health services for Aboriginal people with local health and other support services be a feature of current and expanded Aboriginal mental health services. (4:263) Dunno about "White Men Can't Jump" they seem incapable of responding to RCIADIC recommendations....Someone going to ask these questions at the inquest? jim 7___BURNING THE SACRED FIRE-A LIVING HISTORY SURVIVES-INDIGENOUS WOMAN ELDERS TOUR___ Burning the Sacred Fire --A Living History Survives-- With the very recent attempts to close the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra by the Howard Government, the imminent end of ATSIC about to occur, and the continued genocide of many Australian Aboriginal people, a core group of *Indigenous Woman* *Elders* have decided to stand up, unite and come together to speak their stories, to tell the truths of Australia's living history and to openly discuss the ongoing struggle for Aboriginal sovereignty. http://www.savelakecowal.org/elders_gathering.html http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net 8___IRATI WANTI – COOPER PEDY - DARE TO STRUGGLE – DARE TO WIN___ Irati Wanti - Cooper Pedy - Dare to Struggle - Dare to Win via PARIAH Irati Wanti - Project - compilation of struggle and success. Greetings from the Irati Wanti Campaign Office in Coober Pedy, South Australia. At the moment the IW Office is a hive of activity as we undertake the massive task of documenting and archiving the successful Irati Wanti Campaign of the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta. Apart from condensing six years of activity into an archive that will be accessible and relevant to the wider community we are working on two major projects. Irati Wanti publication & Irati Wanti website (more details @this link) http://darwin.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=4020 If all goes to the master plan both these projects WILL be completed by mid year and we WILL be celebrating the closure of the campaign with a huge book and site launch in Coober Pedy around June. If anyone would like to assist us in any way or form please don't hesitate contacting us at the Office. We also have t-shirts and other campaign merchandise that need happy homes. IRATI WANTI - THE POISON, LEAVE IT! From Coober Pedy, The Brown Sisters Irati Wanti PO Box 1043Coober Pedy SA 5723 08 8672 3413 kungkatjuta@iratiwanti.org http://www.iratiwanti.org full article @ http://darwin.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=4020 9__BAXTER CONVERGENCE-PROTESTERS ATTACKED OUTSIDE BAXTER BY STARFORCE, AND PORT AUGUSTA INDIGENOUS SOLIDARITY RALLY___ For full wrap of events… http://www.baxter.info Baxter protesters reject spurious accusations of violence 26 March 2005 Protesters at Baxter detention centre today rejected the claims of violence made by the police and South Australian premier. “Our protest is symbolic and peaceful. The spurious accusations of violence made by the police and the South Australian premier Mike Rann are pathetic and predictable – like a broken record, we hear the same thing every time there is a serious protest,” said Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition of NSW. “We would love to pull down the fence at Baxter detention centre and free all the innocent people inside. We would love to set Peter Qasim free after 6 years in jail for no crime. “The real violence occurs at the hands of the Howard government’s immigration department. Keeping Cornelia Rau and other mentally ill people untreated and in 19th century conditions; jailing innocent people including women and children; snatching little children from schools; deporting people back to their torturers in places like Iran and Sudan. http://baxter05.info/?action=newswire&parentview=436 CLOSE BAXTER OR WE'LL BE BACK' SAY REFUGEE ACTIVISTS In the wake of last weekend's national convergence, refugee advocates have vowed to be back at the gates of Baxter Detention Centre next Easter if the South Australian camp is still operating in 2006. Linda Dare, one of the Barngarla country traditional owners who performed a ceremonial 'welcome to country' when protestors arrived in the vicinity of Baxter on Good Friday, has invited them to return in a year's time. ‘John Howard and his government have got to remember they came on a boat too,’ she said. She said indigenous people understand well the racism at the heart of the government's refugee policies, and have a proud tradition of speaking out in support of Australia's newest arrivals. Read article here http://baxter05.info/?action=newswire&parentview=682 [Baxter05] Pt Augusta Indigenous Solidarity Actions From: "Matt Hamon" Monday, March 28, 2005 Sorry, this is only brief and missing pertinent people's names The solidarity action in Pt Augusta was excellent. I can't remember the lady's name (hard to hear without a megaphone) but she was an indigenous reporter who told us about what has been happening in Pt Augusta. Firstly she explained about how as a reporter for 10 years she was denied a media pass to cover the convergence. Also we were told how there have been many deaths, 8 in the last month due to the poor health of indigenous Australians and that her 13 y/o daughter has renal failure, which is extremely distressing. Many people wore t-shirts that said, "Racism is anti-social behavior" We did the solidarity march from the newly developed foreshore down to the main street then around Gladstone Square and then returned to the foreshore. We were very loud chanting, "Always was, always will, Aboriginal land", and locals (redneck Port Augustians) didn't seem to be very amused.It was really great to support the local Aboriginal people and brought home that it is an issue that needs our serious support. It should also be noted that the local Aboriginal people were very supportive of our protest at Baxter even joining us and spending time with us at the camp site. They really are wonderful and quite lovely people. AZADI, Matt Once You've Been to Baxter You Can't Sit on the Fence http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89837.php Baxter Watch http://baxterwatch.net/ Baxter Detention Centre http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?ArticleID=496&CategoryID=48 10___MUCH NEEDED SOLIDARITY WITH WEST PAPUA___ come to canberra! please forward on we have received an emergency call from solidarity activists with the struggles for justice in West Papua, Indonesia and Aceh, to be ready for the visit to Australia of the (p)Resident of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudoyhono, which is imminent. He will be in Australia from March 30, 31 and April Fools day, Given the recent revelations about Australia's $1bn tsunami donation being used to arm and train East Timor style militias and conduct further human rights abuses in West Papua, increased military co-operation between Australia and the Indonesian military, and the new security pact between these axis powers, Australian suppporter of Justice should really give him the welcome that an Australian trained War Criminal deserves. This is not being organised in any way by any organisation, simply . Please contact papuafree@hushmail.com Free West Papua ! Free Aceh ! Papua Merdeka !!! Aceh Merdeka !!! some direct messages from West Papua as reported by Demmak/Watch Papua on their website: http://www.westpapuanews.com 6/12/04 SSP (Brighton) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- WEST PAPUA 15,000 FLEE MILITARY ASSUALT ON HIGHLAND VILLAGES GOVERNMENT CONVOY AMBUSHED 5,000 IN ABEPURA INDEPEDENCE DEMO POLITICAL PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE The Indonesian military has been attacking villages in the heavily forested highland district of Puncak Jaya. Dozens have already been killed; either directly by bullets from helicopter gun ships or from starvation in the crowded makeshift camps that now adorn Pancke Jaya – the highest mountain in Australasia. The military assault follows guerrilla attacks attributed to around 50 OPM/TPN warriors in mid October. Six Indonesian construction workers were killed when their vehicle was attacked. This was followed by the torching of government schools and administration buildings - (see www.eco-action.org/ssp/news/24100402.html). The subsequent state reaction has led to ‘internal refugees’ now exceeding 15,000 people from 147 villages. Some are forced to hide in caves in the mountains in the central Puncak Jaya district. People are starving. The death of 15 people, mainly children, was reported on November 27th. There are 2800 troops in several locations around Puncak Jaya, blocking off access to the Papuans who fled into the forest seeking refuge. As well as direct attacks on people the troops have been destroying village houses, wrecking food gardens, killing domestic animals etc. Against this huge state assault the tribes have shown their instincts for both flight AND fight. More http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/84334.php 15,000 tribal Papuans face genocide on the side of Glacier Mountain-PLEASE HELP by mama Tuesday December 07, 2004 at 07:05 AM info@fPcN-global.org http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/84259_comment.php#84311 WHAT CAN WE DO DIRECT AID Incidents like what is happening in Pancuk Jaya are inevitable in a struggle for survival like that the Papuans face. What is not inevitable is their total lack of medicines and basic supplies. To deal with similar (smaller) incidents SSP has transferred funds over to West Papua for basic necessities like food and blankets etc and we have also delivered medical aid to Papuan Refugees direct. We are continuing to raise funds and plan direct aid. Indonesian Troops getting Aid Money to Attack Papuans http://www.news.vu/en/news/RegionalNews/050316-Papuan-militias-getting-aid-money.shtml Aceh, West Papua & Indonesian dissidents defeat official obstruction http://www.sydney.indymedia.org.au//front.php3?article_id=53165&group=webcast 11___LOGGING IN ACEH AND PAPUA___ Stop Cutting Trees to Rebuild Aceh - Conservationists JAKARTA, Mar 2 (IPS) - Environmentalists are opposing the plan of the government to cut down more trees in one of the largest national parks in Indonesia to help rebuild tsunami-ravaged Aceh. http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27688 Timber smuggling from Indonesia's Papua to China February 17, 2005 JAKARTA (AFX) - Environmental investigators said they have uncovered massive timber smuggling from Indonesia's Papua province to China involving one wood species- merbau http://www.news.vu/en/news/environment/050217-Timber-Smuggling-Operation.shtml 12___EAST GIPPSLAND ACTIONS AND EVENTS 2005___ The varied forests of East Gippsland, land of the Traditional Maar and Gunai Sovereign Nations, have ancient Gondwanan ecological links, but are threatened by industrial scale logging and complete habitat destruction by illegal corporations. There has been a resurge in active support in the summer of 2005. BUT the old growth needs you now Conservationists occupy Bairnsdale VicForests office Protesters Converge on Eden Chip Mill Ellery Protest goes off! Activist Road Trip coming to Goongerah 17 - 20 Feb 2005 Skillshare in Goongerah, Jan 7-9 2005 http://www.geco.org.au/actions.html To find out more contact geco@green.net.au /03 5154 0156 GECO website http://www.geco.org.au/ Environment East Gippsland http://www.eastgippsland.net.au/ Victorian Rainforest Network http://www.ozrainforest.org/ Future Rescue http://www.futurerescue.org/ __GUNNS MUSHROOM CLOUD OVER TASMANIA___ http://www.sydney.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=53658&group=webcast 13___SAVE THE TUART FORESTS OF LUDLOW, WA___ The Tall Tuart Forest of Ludlow is part of the tribal lands of the Wardandi people, and is an area of special significance to their culture. As a relatively open forest with a scattered understorey, the area was easy to move through and the ideal location for large camps and tribal gatherings http://savethetuarts.org/indighist.html & *The last tallTuart forest in the world is under threat from titanium mining. * It is a rare ecosystem with less than 2000 hectares remaining. * The majority of the trees which would be destroyed are between 80-500 years old. * There would be no extra jobs as a result of having the mine. * The mine would use 4.4 million litres of water per day. * The main product of the mine, titanium dioxide, which used to whiten things including soap, toothpaste, makeup and sunscreen!(there are alternatives to all these products which don’t used titanium dioxide, they are still white!) * Mining would involve the extraction of radioactive heavy minerals, for which no radiation management plan has been prepared. 14___RESPECT SACRED WINDARLING___ According to traditional Aboriginal law people, Windarling is a sacred women's place, an important site complex and an integral strand of the dreaming tracks that run from the Swan River through the Central Desert and into Queensland. During the original heritage surveys, Tjuntjuntjarra (Spinifex Lawmen), senior law women from Blackstone, and Ngalia law people were invited by both Central West and Ballardong native title applicants to provide input as to the significance of the area. In all three cases it was confirmed that the Windarling Range and other sites were important in a regional context - "...this place is very important both in itself and in its relationship to places further afield." (Ngalia, quoted by Parker 2001). http://respectsacredland.org/ The Windarling Action Collective is a diverse network of Western Australians who are building bridges between communities across the state that have an interest in the preservation and integrity of culture and country. To get on the email list http://lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/wac 15___THE BLACK GST- GENOCIDE SOVEREIGNTY TREATY___ The Black GST campaign to boycott and protest at the 2006 Melbourne "Stolenwealth" Games In the words of Targen, "Come to Melbourne and help us expose the racist nature of Australian society that continues 20 years after Brisbane to deny us our basic human rights! Let's Stop the Genocide, Assert Aboriginal Sovereignty and negotiate a Treaty!" For further info and to get your Black GST T-Shirt send an email to:- gst2006@hotmail.com http://www.kooriweb.org/gst Some documents relating to Indigenous protests @ the Stolenwealth Games that were held in Brisbane in 1982 http://www.newint.org/issue114/update.htm The History of Kirilpa http://www.spiral.org.au/sos/index.php?page=6 16__WORLDWIDE INDIGENOUS PETITION TO THE UN & INDIGENOUS SUPPORT WEBSITE-SPEAKING4EARTH.COM__ http://www.petitiononline.com/indig001/petition.html This is the first urgent action of Speaking4Earth, a website launched on 10 December 2004 in honor of the 1st United Nations Decade for the World's Indigenous Peoples. This website was created in order to globally disseminate news on Indigenous Peoples and their issues and specifically to initiate and carry urgent actions such as this one. We therefore invite you to please visit the Speaking4Earth website: http://www.speaking4earth.com/ to sign the petition -United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Serious Jeopardy http://www.petitiononline.com/indig001/petition.html 17___SAVE SACRED GULUGA MOUNTAIN FROM LOGGING___ Contact Heidi Brennan or Rob Tombs 0438 246334/02 44 737075 Tilba Ecology NetworkPO Box 98, Central Tilba, NSW, 2546 ph/fx 02 4473 7075 Gulaga has long been recognised as sacred to Aboriginal People. The woodchipping of this area (compartment 3046,Bodalla State Forest), scheduled after Easter, will have a detrimental effect on the ecology of the area , particularly Punkally Creek which supplies water for local farmers below the compartment and ultimately feeds Wagonga Inlet with its locally renowned oyster farms…. “It is time for us ordinary folk to step out of our comfort zones , connect with the land and each other to embrace a common future. We have had enough of multinational companies destroying our land and lives. It is time for us to wage peace for the land.” link below gives some background www.sydney.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=49607 Forwarding a RED Alert from Earth rescue. .CALLING ALL FOREST RAT BAGS !!! Red Alert- Red Alert- Red Alert- Red Alert- Red Alert Red Alert South East Forest Rescue and Tilba Ecology Network invite all forest rat bags for a week of rollicking adventures in the magnificent forests of the South East. Forests NSW have begun to target several of the Icon areas that were not protected in the recent inadequate reserve decision. Forests NSW have begun operations in Murrah SF, Tallaganda SF, Wandella SF and Cathcart SF. These areas contain large tracts of old growth and are crucial to biodiversity and water and must be protected at all costs. For the week starting Monday April 11th to Friday15th we will be blockading somewhere or everywhere. Come for the week or come for a day. So don your best party gear and come on down and play. Meeting time and place on Sunday 10th will be announced closer to the date (probably in between Canberra and Batemans Bay). If you are planning on coming please contact us so we can coordinate transport. CONTACTS Sooty 0427 221691 , Tony 4473 7975 , Scott 0400740000 earthrescue@planet-save.com , fastigata@bigpond.com.au P.S. There is currently a forest camp set up in Bodalla SF 6km from Central Tilba. This area is set for logging in June. If you can spend some time here it would be great. A fundraiser gig is to be held on Friday 15th April at Central Tilba, all welcome. Red Alert for Southern NSW Forest Govt notice in SMH today advises intense logging for South Coast http://www.sydney.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=49607 18___TWO FIRES FESTIVAL IGNITES BRAIDWOOD___ Report back The first Two Fires festival was held in Braidwood NSW last weekend (18-21 March 2005) to celebrate the philosophy, politics and creative work of Judith Wright. Like Wright herself, the Festival did not shirk from hard issues or controversy. [It certainly pushed my cultural envelope in every direction]. Aboriginal activists challenged white thinking on Native Title and much else, while generously sharing the culture whites have all but destroyed… http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89737.php http://www.twofiresfestival.com/ 19___IS PANGAEA BACK UNDER ANOTHER NAME?+NUKE NEWS___ . One quote drom The Australian to get your attention, "IF Swiss-based Xstrata wins WMC, Australia's restrictions on uranium sales and bans on nuclear waste imports may be overridden by treaty obligations." Remember Pangea, the european based company that wanted to dump foreign waste in australia? they havent gone away, just changed their name to arius http://www.arius-world.org/ and are based in switzerland. What goes around comes around, and there are plenty out there in government that think if we sell uranium, we have a moral obligation to take the waste. and now that we have that shiny new adelaide to darwin railway we have the perfect method for moving it. Jc(Greenpeace) As you may or may not be aware the price of Uranium has gone up by some 300% in the last six months. Also soon there will be A Coalition controlled senate. In many cases the only thing stopping new mines is the right of veto over new mines in the land rights act. A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald talked about the serious possibility of there being up to 28 new Uranium mines opened in Australia. Hillel nukefreeaus@green.net.au (NuclearFreeAustralia) Other reports on the insaniy of the nuclear industry here NO NUKE NEWS by Jim Green http://sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=52749&group=webcast Watered Down (with Acid In situ Leach): Uranium Report http://www.adelaide.indymedia.org.au/feature/display/7531/index.php http://www.griffith.edu.au/centre/cpci/pdf/ros_kidd_garma.pdf 20___SAVING THE BAY AND ITS CULTURAL HISTORY CHANNEL DEEPENING STALLED IN PORT PHILLIP BAY___ Just a quick update for those of you who don't know. They have demanded an independant inquiry into the effects of dredging in Port Phillip Bay. So it's most likely bought another year of precious research Shock of the Bay http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Shock-of-the-bay-channel-report-fails/2005/03/31/1111862531555.html?oneclick=true (bgs note) the effects on the ecological diversity and function of the bay, as well as the sacred cultural heritage are irreversible and devastating.if this giant dredging project proceeds. The (illegitimate) Victorian colonial government is still pushing the idea but the enviro effects statement was so flawed, possibly because the dredging plan is so environmentally flawed, and a legitimate study of all of the effects would prove this. It stalls the project for a year so it is a good outcome in the short term. The Victorian Aborigianl Affairs minister Gavin Jennings also got legislation passed last year, in relation to the Bunnuwrung clan of the Kulin Nation, and now has veto over cultural artefact matters. This amounts to cultural genocide. it is also of note that both Adelaide and Melbourne are dredging their bays and competing for the biggest Australian military contract ever in their ports http://www.bluewedges.org http://www.dredgebaynomore.net . The clans of the Kulin Nation are the traditional owners and custodians of the bay. They have water rights to the bay as much as land rights to their land. People walked on the bay only 6000 years ago. The following is from http://www.vu.edu.au/Services/Equity_and_Social_Justice_Branch/Koori_Development_and_Support_Unit/Local_Aboriginal_History/ How Port Philip Bay was formed One day the men were away hunting and the women had gone off collecting roots and yams, while some little boys, who had been left behind, were playing in the camp. They were hurling little toy spears at each other, just like their fathers did. In the camp there were some wooden troughs full of water, and one of the spears upset one of these. However, this was no ordinary bucket, but a magic one, and it held a tremendous amount of water, which came rolling down engulfing all the land and threatening to drown all the people. Bunjil felt sorry for them and placed a rock where Mornington now is, and told the water not to go any further. Then with two other rocks he made the Heads and told the water to run out between them and meet the ocean. http://www.vu.edu.au/Services/Equity_and_Social_Justice_Branch/Koori_Development_and_Support_Unit/Local_Aboriginal_History/ 21___LAKE COWAL LEGAL UPDATES MARCH 2005___ http://www.savelakecowal.org 1. We have launched a civil action against Country Energy, constructors of the Electricity Transmission Line for lake Cowal. The action bought by Uncle Chappie alleges that work has been proceeding on the ETL without any heritage permits and consents to destroy is causing disturbance and damage to Aboriginal Artefacts. The work began despite Uncle Chappie succesfully had the previous permits invalidated by the Court in November, 2004. After expedition of the matter it went to trial in early March. Country Energy applied to have the matter adjourned as CE stopped work. The Court set down the adjourned proceeding to May 23rd. 2. On March 16, 2005 the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation issued a new permit to collect and a consent to destroy to CE for the ETL. An urgent Application for an injunction was filed in the Land and Environment Court. The matter is to be heard on April the 1st. CE have informed Uncle Chappie that work on the ETL is to commence this week and the archaeological work to collect surface artefacts commences next Monday the 4th of April thus the need for the urgent injunction application. 3. In another matter Uncle Chappie's Application alleging breaches of Consents to Destroy on the mine site was dismissed also a charge that the archaeologist for Barrick Gold had racially discriminated against him and another Wiradjuri Traditional Owner was also dismissed on the grounds that the Court lacked jurisdiction. 4. In the Federal Court Justice Wilcox has directed Uncle Chappie to prepare evidence for his Native Title Claim. During a short hearing it was revealed that the group who signed off on an agreement with barrick are now split and are fightinamongst themselves, with one of the groups wanting to mediate with the Mooka/Kalara Traditional Owners. Alan Researcher/Advocate Indigenous Justice Advocacy Network All legal can be found at: http://www.savelakecowal.org/legal.html For much legal funds to protect Lake Cowal http://www.savelakecowal.org/Donations.html 22___LETTER FROM KIRIBATI- PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL LESSONS___ By The Independent Posted Tuesday, March 8, 2005 The winds and the waste Before I describe the changes occurring on South Tarawa as a result of growing interest in environmentally friendly methods of waste disposal, I must refer back to my letter about the king tides, which became, as a result of international rumour, a ‘tsunami’. Last week, along with normal high tides at the time of the full moon, we had very strong north winds which, at about 45 knots, were the worst that many younger people had ever experienced. However, older people commented that they were just a return to the weather patterns of earlier years, when they occurred annually. It was certainly a frightening experience for both young and old, much worse than the king tides, which had attracted the attention of the media worldwide. Those had been photographed by Greenpeace to be produced as evidence of sea level rise at the Kyoto talks. http://www.news.vu/en/news/RegionalNews/050308-Letter-from-Kiribati.shtml 23___ABORIGINAL RESISTANCE HISTORY WEBSITE___ This list has been compiled from quotes in just three published sources, listed at the bottom of this page. There were, and are, many many more instances of resistance, but when this many are seen in such a long list they help to explode the myth that Europeans walked in here and took over without any real resistance. There is strong evidence that there was a long and protracted guerilla war here in Australia using many tactics including destruction of food sources, distruption of lines of supply and communication, spying, negotiating, killing the enemy, stealing of food, not just to deprive their enemy of it, but to provide for their people in times when energy was used for meetings and fighting instead of hunting and gathering, stealing and learning to use our weapons, humiliating and demoralising the enemy, not cooperating with Europeans, and being generally disruptive. We have made up this list as our contribution to the Reconciliation process, as we feel it is important to tell the truth, to explode myths that attempt to trivialise Aboriginal people. Feel free to use this list and build on it…. SEE IT @ http://www4.tpgi.com.au/2juls/resistance.html ABORIGINALTENTEMBASSY stay posted as website develops… http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net 24__RECLAIMING AN INDIGENOUS HISTORY BOOK LAUNCHED__ UWS Latest News Reclaiming an Indigenous history Date: 08/03/2005 A new book, launched today at the University of Western Sydney, chronicles the unique experiences of one of the Koori community's most respected and prominent Indigenous health educators. From an unloved child of the 'stolen generation', her graduation as a nurse at UWS, to accepting a public apology on behalf of all Aboriginal people, 'Ten Hours in a Lifetime' is the life story of Nancy de Vries. http://apps.uws.edu.au/media/news/index.phtml?act=view&story_id=1151 25___DIGITIZING THE DREAMTIME___ National Indigenous Times - Issue 77 Morganics and Wire MC are the latest mix of hip hop performers on show @ The Studio, Sydney Opera House, in April. Following on from the sell-out national tour of Crouching B-boy Hidden Dreadlocks, Sydney based hip hop artist Morganics teams up with 2002 Deadlys nominated Best New Talent, Wire MC, to present a fresh new black and white collaboration for the hip hop generation. The two-man hip-hop theatre show - Stereotype - keeps the audience alive and will be a new experience for many live show goers…. http://www.nit.com.au/thearts/story.aspx?id=4776 26___ATSIC IS NO LONGER___ The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) has been officially abolished http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1330502.htm 27___GENEVA VS CANBERRA___ Geneva v Canberra - UN attacks once again Howard Government's record on race Sydney Morning Herald - March 28, 2005 The UN has again attacked the Howard Government's record on race… A Gubbi Gubbi man in his early 50s, Malezer knows his way around the town and, more to the point, the lakeside palaces where United Nations human rights committees do their work. through. http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Geneva-v-Canberra/2005/03/27/1111862253110.htmlGeneva 28___INDIGENOUS LEGAL SERVICE INVESTIGATION___ ABC NEWS ONLINE Last Update: Thursday, March 31, 2005. 6:15am (AEST) Committee to investigate Indigenous legal services A Federal Parliamentary Committee will visit the central Australian community of Yuendumu this morning as part of a national inquiry into the provision of Indigenous legal aid services. The committee was established a year ago and has so far taken evidence from hundreds of people across Australia, including organisations in Alice Springs and Darwin. The panel will now visit Yuendumu, 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. Ned Hargraves from the Yuendumu Community Council says it is hoped they will learn more about law, justice and social problems in the area. "We don't want to lose our young people and our elders and our young men gone to jail and drown themselves in grog. We don't want that," Mr Hargreaves said. The committee will particularly focus on legal assistance available to Aboriginal women. Article from http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1334824.htm 29_INDIAN NGO SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS TRIBAL CULTURE__ Adibasi Sanskruti Gabesana Parishad (ASGP) is a non-government, non-profit research organization to facilitate and promote the indigenous tribal culture and education of the natives. Founded in 1985 by a group of Indigenous leaders and academicians on folklore research in Sinapali, located in Nuapada district (erstwhile Kalahandi), it has grown up to a rich depository of indigenous resources. It grows with the traditional collective memory and the creative expressions of multicultural societies. http://www.asgporissa.org/ GUNNS MUSHROOM CLOUD OVER TASMANIA___ http://www.sydney.indymedia.org.au/front.php3?article_id=53658&group=webcast BlackGreenSolidarity Events List April 2005 http://www.envirotalk.com.au/forum/index.php?s=c526bb42d5641cd0dfb334996098b852&showtopic=3891 BlackGreenSolidarity Updates March 2005 http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89547.php To join the Black Green Solidarity email list http://www.lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/blackgreensolidarity 30___SOME new WEBSITE links___ Kumbutjil Association http://onemiledam.org/ PARIAH http://www.country-liberal-party.com/ Mirrar People http://www.mirrar.net/ Kimberly Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre http://www.kalacc.org.au/ Narana Creations http://www.narana.com.au/ Kev Carmody’s website http://www.kevcarmody.com.au/ Kutcha Edward’s website http://www.kutcha-edwards.com/ Barrick Gold in Argentina http://www.savelakecowal.org/argentina.html Lake Cowal Campaign http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakep.html http://www.savelakecowal.org/Indigenous.html Stop the Bombs Walk (US) http://stopthebombswalk.peacehq.com The Concrete Apocalypse Volumes http://concreteapocalypse.blogspot.com/ Independent Media Centre Tokelau http://indymedia.tk/ To join the Black Green Solidarity email list http://www.lists.perthimc.asn.au/listinfo/blackgreensolidarity Aboriginal Tent Embassy http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net International Genocide Litigation http://www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au The Block, Redfern http://www.isis.aust.com/theblock/ KooriWeb http://www.kooriweb.org Jaara Bringing Them Home Camp-aign http://jaaracamp.tripod.com/ Aunty Sue’s art http://www.metadev.com.au/clients/earthcry/boards.html Black GST/Stolenwealth Games http://www.kooriweb.org/gst Kungka Tjuta http://www.iratiwanti.org Lake Cowal, Sacred Wiradjuri Land http://www.savelakecowal.org Jinta Jungu http://jintajungu.ghostchild.com/ Keepers of Lake Eyre http://www.lakeeyre.green.net.au/ BlackGreenSolidarity Events List April 2005 http://www.envirotalk.com.au/forum/index.php?s=c526bb42d5641cd0dfb334996098b852&showtopic=3891 Activist Rights http://www.activistrights.org.au Free West Papua http://www.freewestpapua.com Oceania Indymedia http://www.oceania.indymedia.org/ No channel Deepening in melb's bay http://www.bluewedges.org Perth Indymedia http://www.perth.indymedia.org

MARCH updates

2005-03-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

BLACK GREEN SOLIDARITY UPDATE 1) New BlackGreenSolidarity Updates 2) Easter Convergences 3) Palm Island-Something is Wrong, by Andrew Boe 4) Govt attempt to Abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy 5) UN Concern about Racism in Australia- CERD Report 6) Port Augusta Solidarity & Article Links 7) Indigenous legal services to be run by non-Indigenous 8) Asbestos devastates Aboriginal (Bunjalung) Communities 9) Lake Cowal- Cultural Artefacts- Powerlines Stopped Again 10) Landmark Victory in World’s !st Case Against Biopiracy 11) & Indigenous Bush Plum & Implications for Aboriginal Bushfoods 12) & Native Americans Seek GM Ban 13) Burning the Sacred Fire Indigenous Womans Tour, Melb, aireysinlet, 14) Wilin Week- Indigenous Cultural Festival @VCA, Melb 15) Radioactive Exposure Tour,SA 16) Black GST & the Stolenwealth Games 17) ABC Message Stick story on 2005 Corroboree for Sovereignty 18) Tent Embassy Article by Uncle Neville Williams 19) Sovereign Stories Zine & Zine contribution Call Out 20) Save the Weld Old Growth Forest, Tasmania 21) Stop the Bombs Walk,(USA) 22) Peace Convergence @ Shoalwater Bay (June) 23) Students of Sustainability (SOS) Conference 2005 @ Wollongong Uni 24) & the nearby Kuradji Embassy @ Sandon Point 25)West Papuan Jacob Rumbiak gives evidence @ trail of ADI activists 26) lotsa Website links if you have short updates or website links for inclusion into BlackGreenSolidarityUpdates post them to sustainablesnail@riseup.net In Solidarity, always was always will be always is Aboriginal Land dan 2___EASTER CONVERGENCES___ Lake Cowal Easter Convergence Protect Lake Cowal from Barrick Gold’s Cyanide Mine http://www.savelakecowal.org/easter_2005.html Baxter Easter Convergence Free the Refugees, Deport the Government Including.Port Augusta Indigenous Solidarity Action http://www.baxter05.info 3___Palm Island, Something is Wrong___ Article by Andrew Boe, lawyer for Palm Island Aboriginal Council http://www.sydney.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=52663&group=webcast Palm Island is presently under siege by issues following a recent death in police custody, subsequent riots and arrests and banishment of people from the island. It is one of the focal points of race relations in Australia. This article looks at the government engagement issues that have arisen. More nformation can be found at http://www.boelawyers.com.au 4___GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO ABOLISH THE ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY___ Liberals move to divide Aboriginal Community to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy by Belle b Saturday February 19, 2005 at 04:48 PM The Liberal government is seeking to divide the Aboriginal community to persue its agenda to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Now more than ever we need the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as the grassroots platform for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices… Story @ http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/87913.php ACT residents can express their view on this issue by emailing Senator Humphries at senator.humphries@aph.gov.au 5_UN CONCERN ABOUT RACISM IN AUSTRALIA-CERD REPORT_ In its concluding comments released on 11 March 2005, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, spoke about its serious concerns on the abolishment of ATSIC, the practical barriers Indigenous people face in obtaining native title claims, the continuing high rates of over-representation of Indigenous people in prisons and the extreme inequities between Indigenous people and others in the areas of employment, housing, health education and income. The committee called on the government to work towards a meaningful reconciliation and to properly address the issues of the stolen generation. The committee expressed further concerns about the prejudice against Arabic and Muslim communities in Australia's laws and the media. The Committee also expressed concerns about the mandatory detention of illegal migrants and asylum seekers, including women and children and called for the government to review its differential treatment for persons given temporary protection visas, who cannot access pubic services. http://www.abc.net.au/message/news/stories/s1326898.htm Concluding Observations of the Committee on Australia http://www.humanrights.gov.au/cerd/report.html Copies of the NGO reports are available at: http://www.rightsaustralia.org.au/papers.php 6___PORT AUGUSTA SOLIDARITY & ARTICLE LINKS ___ Pt Augusta Rampant Racism: "star force will come through like the Tsunami and clean up the rubbish" Just a note to let you know that things are pretty tough in Port Augusta right now. As you are probably aware Port Augusta has always been a meeting place for Aboriginal people. Long before non-Aboriginal people arrived here Aboriginal people from many different groups used to meet on the coast, especially in the summer months. …A meeting on Friday with Police, Council and Aboriginal leaders was told that they are going to bring in the Star Force Police to move the people who currently meet on the coast (near the new foreshore development) and arrest them if necessary to ensure they no longer congregate there The city manager is quoted as saying "we don't want them in our town and we will get rid of them". Another quote from the meeting was "the star force will come through like the Tsunami and clean up the rubbish"……. ……I have just come back from a rally under the bridge where local people met in solidarity with the Aboriginal people who meet there. I have taken some hope from the people who gathered, but I fear for the safety of the Aboriginal people when the star force arrive and they are on there own. Full article can be found @ http://baxter05.info/?action=newswire&parentview=208 and also… Regarding recent events in Pt Augusta, these articles might be of interest. Gulf city reinvented as a vibrant centre The Advertiser, 08feb05 http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,12179701,00.html Aiming to build relationships with agencies Transcontinental, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 http://portaugusta.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=375323&y=2005&m=3 United against anti-social behaviour Transcontinental, Wednesday, 2 March 2005 http://portaugusta.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=375319&y=2005&m=3 SA row deepens over nepotism claims February 18 http://au.news.yahoo.com/050218/21/t4nl.html 7___INDIGENOUS LEGAL SERVICES TO BE RUN BY NON-INDIGENOUS___ From the Koori Mail, March 2005 More Aborigines will wind up in jail if Aboriginal legal services are tendered out, a legal expert has warned. Non-Indigenous legal services would not be as culturally aware and Aboriginal people would lose faith in them, lawyer Cleonie Quayle said. Ms Quayle, a National Network of Indigenous Women Legal Service (NNIWLS) delegate, said that Indigenous crime statistics would most likely get worse if non-Indigenous Australians were allowed to run Aboriginal legal centres. "The whole point of the Aboriginal Legal Service is that it was for Indigenous people to have a voice... and say 'this is where the legal system fails us'", Ms Quayle said. "So Aboriginal people feel quite confident to be able to approach the Aboriginal Legal Service and say 'these are the areas you have to address'." "If you've got non-Aboriginal people taking up tenders, not aware of the cultural issues, not aware of all the legal ramifications, Aboriginal people might be without a voice altogether and I should imagine you'd see an increase in people in custody." Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has already released tender requests in Victoria and Western Australia, and will do the same for Queensland this month. The move could result in the demise of Federally-funded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS), which have been running since 1972. Critics of the new process argue that introducing a competitive element to Indigenous legal services provision could result in some clients being excluded. Tenderers are also not required to be Indigenous organisations or hire any Indigenous staff. "The Government has said [tenderers] don't have to be culturally appropriate — they don't need to understand or meet the needs of Aboriginal people", Ms Quayle said. "So if you have non-Indigenous services tendering for them... Aboriginal people won't be represented because those people won't know the issues on the ground." Koori Mail, March 2005 Note: Australian Institute of Criminology found that Indigenous Australians are grossly over-represented in prisons. The rate of imprisonment is 13 times higher for Indigenous population compared to non-Indigenous population — 1710 per 100,000 compared to 124. Three-quarters of deaths in custody since 2003 were Indigenous. 8___ASBESTOS DEVASTATES ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY ___ By Matthew Peacock for 7:30 Report There are a lot of very sick people among the Bunjalung Aboriginal people of Baryulgil in northern New South Wales. James Hardie opened an asbestos mine in the town in 1944 and in the years that followed, its Aboriginal workers were exposed to levels of carcinogenic dust thousands of times over the then, inadequate, government standard. Children played in tonnes of asbestos tailings scattered throughout the community. Now, nearly 30 years after the mine's closure, there are alarming signs of asbestos-induced disease in a community which feels it has been abandoned. FULL STORY http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1320326.htm Also___ Baryulgil's painful asbestos legacy Friday, 11 March 2005 http://www.abc.net.au/northcoast/stories/s1321423.htm 9___LAKE COWAL- CULTURAL ARTEFACTS-POWERLINES STOPPED AGAIN___ (tues 15 march) Dear All After another interesting day in the Land and Environment Court on Monday before Justice Cowdrey its good to be able to announce that Country Energy and their lawyers Blake Dawson and Waldron were desparate that the case did not go to trial so they proferred an undertaking that they would not do any more work on the transmission line until they have the consent to destroy. This is after we had gathered the evidence thet Country Energy had been building the transmission line in contempt of court orders, and working in areas where there are artefacts. Seems impossible to actually prosecute anyone for breaking the law but at least work has to stop for now... Uncle Chappy has an inspection with the investigations arm of National Parks tomorrow... SE you at Easter convergence In Unity Ellie MORE INFO http://www.savelakecowal.org 10___LANDMARK VICTORY IN WORLD’S 1ST CASE AGAINST BIOPIRACY- THE NEEM TREE___ European Patent Office Upholds Decision to Revoke Neem Patent Munich, March 8, 2005. In a landmark decision today, the European Patent Office upheld a decision to revoke in its entirety a patent on a fungicidal product derived from seeds of the Neem, a tree indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. The historic action resulted from a legal challenge mounted ten years ago by three Opponents: including Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva. Their joint Legal Opposition claimed that the fungicidal properties of the Neem tree had been public knowledge in India for many centuries and that this patent exemplified how international law was being misused to transfer biological wealth from the South into the hands of a few corporations, scientists, and countries of the North http://www.biotechimc.org/or/2005/03/4010.shtml 11___INDIGENOUS BUSH PLUM AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ABORIGINAL BUSHFOODS___ (in reference to previous article) by Magi http://bushmw.blogspot.com This is so great news. Hopefully the unnamed NT Aboriginal Community which produces bush plums for the US multileval marketing company Mannatech will use this as a stepping stone to reclaim Indigenous rights to the Australian bush plum patented by Mannatech. Mannatech prides itself on the fact that the community in question has managed to "replace it's welfare income" with money from harvesting bush plums for Mannatech. Meanwhile Mannatech and it's distributors are making fortunes! Our Indigenous communities should be at least sharing a bigger slice of the product, and the actions of Mannatech in patenting the bush plum demonstrate it's true motivation, profiting at the expense of the true owners of Indigenous traditional medicines. When are these companies going to wake up and start putting their profits into doing more than "replacing welfare incomes"? Guess what? They wont. This decision opens the way for Indigenous communities to start reclaiming their traditional knowledge and putting the profits back into Indigenous hands. There are scientists researching Indigenous medicines right now with a view to commercial farming, and the majority of these have no intention of sharing the products of their research. Oh yeah, of course they will use the "Aborigines have known for thousands of years " line in their marketing, and show a few photos of the Indigenous"labourers" who may get low paying wages to farm the source product. We need to take advantage of this decision to put pressure on organisations such as our universities and the CSIRO to form working partnerships with Indigenous communities whose medicines they are studying. The old line about the $ cost of doing research, as an excuse for not sharing the profits is a load of sh*t. What $ cost have our Indigenous communities paid since the British system was imposed on them? Magi http://bushmw.blogspot.com 12___NATIVE AMERICANS SEEK GM BAN___ White Earth members seek ban on genetically modified wild rice March 8, 2005 Story excerpt from…News Minnesota Tom Robertson Bemidji, Minn. - The lakes and rivers on the White Earth Indian Reservation in northwest Minnesota are, according to this story, an ideal habitat for wild rice, but the tribe is worried that resource could be threatened by the science of genetic engineering. White Earth has become the first reservation in the U.S. to ban the introduction or growth of genetically-modified wild rice seeds and some White Earth Band members want the Legislature to ban genetically modified wild rice statewide. For the Ojibwe people, wild rice is more than just a plant.Ancient prophecies lured the Ojibwe from their east coast origins to the Midwest, to a place where wild rice was plentiful. Mike Swan, White Earth'sdirector of natural resources, was cited as saying that wild rice is considered a sacred gift from the Creator, adding, "We give offerings for it. We give thanks when we go out and get some food for our families. We give thanks to...the Great Spirit, for allowing us this. And in our own history, Ojibwe history, we came to this area because of this plant, food that grows on water, which is wild rice." 13___Indigenous Woman’s Tour, Burning the sacred Fire, A Living History Survives___ Indigenous Woman Elders Speaking Out and Sharing Vision Indigenous Woman Elders will visit Melbourne to speak frankly and profoundly about spiritual law, peace, tolerance, genocide and Aboriginal Sovereignty. "we are Woman, we birth the world, and the Mother Earth births us all, it is time for we few Aboriginal Woman to step forward in spirit and pure of heart to raise the consciousness regards the true history of the Australian Nation and how we can all come together to attain peace and prosperity for all." For event in Melb, frinight 8th april, aireysinlet w/e 9-10th april http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/calendar/event_display_week.php?day=8&month=4&year=2005 Airey’s Inlet venue contact http://www.opoeia.com.au/ 14___WILIN WEEK- INDIGENOUS CULTURAL FESTIVAL @ VCA___ From little things big things grow' Indigenous Cultural Festival at VCA April 11 - 15 HIGHLIGHTS * Monday 11th 12 noon Opening Ceremony and performances * Tuesday 12th Women's Day 2pm Performance of Women's Songs, * 6pm Exhibition Opening: works by Yunnkurra (Billy) Atkins and Jilalga Murray in the VCA Student Gallery, School of Art 40 Dodds St. Southbank * Wednesday 13th Community Day 12pm Community BBQ Lunch and performance by the Grenadines, 7pm Film Night * Thursday 14th Men's Day 2pm performance of Men's songs, 7pm Koori-oke * Friday 15th 12pm closing ceremony 'From little things big things grow' is the theme of the eighth annual festival of The Wilin Centre for Indigenous Arts and Cultural Development at the Victorian College of the Arts. From Monday 11th to Friday 15th April the VCA will celebrate Wilin Week with performances from well-known Indigenous musicians, artists and elders. Special guests for Wilin Week this year include Paul Kelly and Kutcha Edwards who will perform at the Opening ceremony, Pilbara artists, elder Yunnkurra (Billy) Atkins and Jilalga Murray who will be working with students at the VCA School of Art, Indigenous blues/rock musicians The Grenadines performing on Wednesday at the community lunch, filmmaker Nicholas Boseley who will host the Film night and VCA graduate and celebrity cook, Other activities include business workshops, performances of commissioned songs by local musicians developed during the week at women's and men's song workshops, a Koori-oke night and a Community Lunch. Wilin means 'fire' in Woi Wurrung the language of the Wurundjeri, the traditional owners of the land where the VCA is located. Through out Wilin Week the Centre at the VCA will keep a flame alight in its fire bowl: a symbol of the Centre's responsibility to keep alight the fire passed by generations before for the ones who will be here in the future. The week is also a chance to celebrate the new Indigenous garden located at the heart of the VCA campus. All events are free Wilin Week at the VCA Monday 11 to Friday 15 April 2005 234 St Kilda Rd Program Enquiries: Michelle Evans 03 9685 9327 Media Enquiries: Kate Mazoudier 03 9685 9371 http://www.vca.unimelb.edu.au/wilin/ 15___RADIOACTIVE EXPOSURE TOUR___ Friday 15th April- Saturday 23rd April Join Friends of the Earth and Adelaide’s Campaign Against Nuclear Dumping on a journey into South Australia’s arid north and the heart of Australia’s nuclear industry. The tour takes in Woomera, the Olympic Dam Uranium Mine @ Roxby Downs, Lake Eyre and the Mound Springs- a chain of ecologically fragile oases considered as biologically precious as the Galapagos Islands, now threatened with extinction by Olympic Dam. The tour then travels to the Beverly Uranium Mine in the Gammon Ranges. The tour emphasizes meeting and staying with Aboriginal communities, hearing their stories for the land and sharing their experiences of the nuclear industry. To apply, or find out more contact Joel Catchlove at radtour05@yahoo.com.au 0r Michaela Stubbs (melb) Michaela.stubbs@foe.org.au or (03) 9419 8700 16___BLACK GST- BOYCOTT THE STOLENWEALTH GAMES___ The Black GST Genocide Sovereignty Treaty The Black GST campaign to boycott and protest at the 2006 Melbourne "Stolenwealth" Games was launched on 26th January 2005 in Melbourne. The Black GST Collective would be contacting numerous groups interstate over the next few months inviting them to consider focussing on a campaign of a boycott and protest in Melbourne in 2006. For further info and to get your Black GST T-Shirt send an email to:- gst2006@hotmail.com http://www.kooriweb.org/gst 17__ABC Message Stick story on 2005 Corroboree for Sovereignty_ Corroboree for Sovereignty, 26 of January at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra Published Date: 15/02/2005 AEDT Reporter: Belle Budden, Aboriginal Tent Embassy http://www.abc.net.au/message/blackarts/culture/s1302892.htm 18__Wiradjuri Elder Uncle Neville Williams article on the Tent Embassy__ “Aborigines will not cross that black line” originally posted in the Canberra Times http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/88554.php contact the Aboriginal Tent Embassy aboriginaltentembassy@planet-save.com 19__SOVEREIGN STORIES ZINES & CONTRIBUTION CALL OUT_ DOWNLOAD THE SOVEREIGN STORIES ZINE Thanks to the amazing Nat Lowery you can download the Sovereign Stories zine: Hi Everyone Thanks to everyone who contributed to the first edition of Sovereign Storieswhich was distributed at the Corobboree for Sovereignty. I have made an Acrobat PDF file version of the booklet for distibution which is 3 MB. To download, go to: http://www.savelakecowal.org/intro.html Also - I am hoping to have another booklet made for the S&S (Students of Sustainability) conference. I am also calling out for any contributions of articles, poetry, artworks or photos by June the 1st.issions to be on time..... Thanks belle b aboriginaltentembassy@planet-save.com 20___SAVE THE WELD OLD GROWTH FORESTS, TASMANIA ___ With the tenet, "Nothing to Lose but the Weld" a group of individual demonstrators have moved into the Weld Forest with the intention of protecting the forest from destruction. A community has sprung up on the Weld River with people vowing to live in the forest until it is protected. The camp was started late last year and since then people from all over the world have visited the remarkable place…. http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/02/88436.php For more information contact Huon Valley Environment Centre, Huonville, Tasmania (03) 6264 1286 acidfilly@hotmail.com 21___STOP THE BOMBS WALK___USA___ March 13, 2005 On Monday, March 14, an international group of walkers will begin a 7-week "Stop the Bombs International Peace Walk" from the gates of the Y-12 Nuclear Weapons Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to New York City. They will arrive on May 1 to participate in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters. The 1200 km walk will culminate in a massive demonstration in Central Park in New York City on May 1. (note.Some people who walked from Roxby Downs, via the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, to Hiroshima and Nagasaki are also walking on this walk in the USA. Maybe send them new shoes!) Throughout the pilgrimage, regular updates will be posted on our website,http://stopthebombswalk.peacehq.com and http://www.peacepilgrimage.net For more information regarding the walk contact Natalie Wasley or Jim Toren on (513) 403-6698 Contact: Natalie Wasley , luacheia@peacefulaction.com Knoxville, Tennessee, USA "A Step in the Right Direction" International Peace Pilgrimage http://www.peacepilgrimage.net 22___PEACE CONVERGENCE @ SHOALWATER BAY___ Peace Convergence at Shoalwater Bay June 8 - 12, 2005 Hi Everyone, The Brisbane Anti-Bases Group met last night and have decided to propose a peace convergence @ Shoalwater Bay Basically this would break down into: June 8 & 9 (Weds, Thu) workshop, preparation and meeting space. June 10-12 (Fri- Sun) Days of Action as decided by group - affinity groups. After further discussion nationally and with people of the region we will decide where to set up a base camp space somewhere in the Rockhampton-Shoalwater Bay region Oh yes, we also have a Peace Convergence phone number. The messages will be checked regularly. . Convergence #:: 0401 301 614 Peace,Robin Taubenfeld Brisbane Anti-Bases Group 23___STUDENTS OF SUSTAINABILITY (SOS) 2005 CONFERENCE @WOLLONGONG UNI___ (BGS note-We need to help fund Indigenous Elders to get there) The annual Students of Sustainability (SOS) conference will be at Wollongong University this year, from 9th-15th July 2005. We are again expecting around 800 - 1000 students from all over Australia and beyond, for an intensive weekof workshops, plenaries, skillshares, campaign strategy and planning, actions,art, meeting new pwople, and having heaps of fun ! For more details on SOS callNicky on 042371756 24___KURADJI EMBASSY___ And not to far away, is an Aboriginal Tent Embassy… The Kuradji Embassy was established four years and two months ago, as direct opposition to injustices to the local indigenous people. On a known burial site, which dates back 6,000 years, the Department of Sustainability and Environment have granted permission to Stockman's Developers to establish a residential development, Sandon Point. The Government body, DSE, has ignored its obligation to Indigenous people and culture to protect the burial site under documents outlines the governments commitment of 'protection and preservation of heritage'. Dootch a resident of the Kuradji embassy questions the government's role in implementing such legislation that has been blatantly disregarded in protecting the burial site. Another Aboriginal Tent Embassy has been set up south of Wollongong @ where a 200 berth marina is proposed, again on Sacred Aboriginal Burial Grounds.@ Shoalhaven Kuradji Tent embassy 0405 116 062 25__West Papuan Jacob Rumbiak gives evidence at trial of ADI activists__ On Wednesday the 9th of March, protesters came together at Melbourne Magistrate’s Court in a graphic display in support of three local activists facing trespass charges incurred while protesting at an Australian Defense Industries site in Benalla in central Victoria last year about A.D.I’s support for military oppression in Iraq and Indonesia. http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/89266.php 26___WEBSITES___ Aboriginal Tent Embassy (should be up this week) http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net International Criminal Court Genocide Litigation http://www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au The Block, Redfern http://www.isis.aust.com/theblock/ KooriWeb http://www.kooriweb.org Jaara Bringing Them Home Camp-aign http://jaaracamp.tripod.com/ Aunty Sue’s storyboards http://www.metadev.com.au/clients/earthcry/boards.html Black GST/Stolenwealth Games http://www.kooriweb.org/gst Kungka Tjuta http://www.iratiwanti.org Lake Cowal, Sacred Heartland of the Wiradjuri http://www.savelakecowal.org Kuradji Embassy, link thru Sandon Point site http://www.sandon-point.org.au Jinta Jungu http://jintajungu.ghostchild.com/ Keepers of Lake Eyre http://www.lakeeyre.green.net.au/ Koori Mail http://www.koorimail.com/ The Yarrabah Community http://www.indiginet.com.au/yarrabah/ The "Aboriginal Hunter" Gateway Website is a portal site & has been driven by the Indigenous community of the Hunter. http://www.aboriginalhunter.com/ Indigenous Social Justice Association http://www.green.net.au/isja Palm Island lawyer contact http://www.boelawyers.com.au European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights http://www.eniar.org Richard Frankland, Your Voice http://yourvoice.org.au/ 3KND 1503AM melb Kool n' deadly Radio Station http://www.3knd.org.au Indigenous Law Bulletin http://www.ilb.unsw.edu.au/ Activist Rights http://www.activistrights.org.au Free West PApua http://www.freewestpapua.com http://www.westpapua.net Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.org.au Goongerah environment Centre http://www.geco.org.au Tarkine http://www.tarkine.org Tasmedia http:///http://www.tasmedia.org No channel Deepening in melb's bay http:///http://www.bluewedges.org