Archive for July, 2010

12/07/2010: PM GILLARD: NO CHANGE ON MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP

Posted in NEWSLETTER on 12/07/2010 by D

Contents:
PM Gillard: No change on Muckaty nuclear waste dump
Other Muckaty nuclear waste dump articles
Background to the Muckaty nuclear waste dump
Calls to reform the Australian Constitution
Deaths in Custody protest
New Way summit: Aboriginals to retake lands
Other Aboriginal articles

PM GILLARD: NO CHANGE ON MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

– Media Release

Australian Conservation Foundation:
Muckaty nuclear waste plan is a bad deal, not a done deal
http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2961
7 Jul 10: “The Australian Conservation Foundation is deeply
disappointed with Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s admission
in Darwin today that the Federal Government intends to
proceed with building a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, 120
kilometres north of Tennant Creek. “The push to impose a
radioactive waste dump on an unwilling Aboriginal community
in the Northern Territory is a significant broken promise
from Federal Labor,” said ACF nuclear free campaigner Dave
Sweeney. “The decision is inconsistent with international
best practice for radioactive waste management and must be
reconsidered. The Muckaty site is highly contested;
Traditional Owners are taking both the Commonwealth
Government and Northern Land Council to the Federal Court at
the end of this month to halt the dump plan.“”

– News

NT News: Gillard dumps Muckaty in it after refusing to reconsider
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/07/08/162181_ntnews.html
8 Jul 10: “PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has told
Territorians she won’t be revisiting the decision to dump
Australia’s radioactive waste in the NT Outback. In Darwin
yesterday, Ms Gillard said she wanted a process led by
science to choose the best site for the facility.”

ABC: Labor missed chance on nuclear dump: CLP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/08/2947846.htm
8 Jul 10: “The Northern Territory Opposition says the
Henderson Government missed a golden opportunity during the
Prime Minister’s visit to take a stance against a nuclear
waste dump being built in the Territory.”

ABC: No change on NT nuclear waste dump: PM
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/07/2947331.htm
7 Jul 10: “The Prime Minister says the Federal Government’s
position on building a nuclear waste facility in the
Northern Territory remains unchanged. … During a visit to
Darwin today, Julia Gillard said the arrangements made
under Kevin Rudd’s leadership will remain in place.”

Yahoo!7: Gillard OK with nuclear dump process
http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/7539514/gillard-ok-with-nuclear-dump-process/
7 Jul 10: “A process that will see Australia get its first
nuclear waste dump against the wishes of the site’s
traditional owners will not change under Prime Minister
Julia Gillard.”

OTHER MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP ARTICLES:

– Media Release

Australian Conservation Foundation:
New call to dump Martin Ferguson’s nuclear waste plan
http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=2931
2 Jul 10: “The Australian Conservation Foundation has
launched a major new campaign to end Resources Minister
Martin Ferguson’s plan for a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty,
120 kilometres north of Tennant Creek. ACF is seeking
community support and donations to run newspaper and
billboard advertising (see design below) in Melbourne,
asking for him and the Government to ‘Dump the Dump’.
Concerned Australians can find out more and donate at
www.dumpthedump.org.au … “Muckaty is a long way from our
east coast capital cities and these billboards are an
important way to let people know that their Government is
trying to dump nuclear waste on an Aboriginal community in
the Northern Territory.“ [Mr Sweeney said.]”

– Radio

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Audio
June 16, 2010 – Interview on 98.9fm radio
http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/audio/
“Featuring Muckaty Traditional Owner Dianne Stokes, Maurice
Blackburn senior associate Martin Hyde and Beyond Nuclear
Initiative coordinator Nat Wasley.”

– News

MelbourneProtests Weblog:
No Dump at Muckaty!
FoE ACE Collective at Martin Ferguson’s office, 2 July 2010
http://melbourneprotests.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/no-dump-at-muckaty-foe-ace-collective-at-martin-fergusons-office-2-july-2010/
2 Jul 10: “Friends of the Earth Melbourne’s ACE
(Anti-nuclear and Clean Energy) Collective continued its
campaign against Energy and Resources Minister Martin
Ferguson’s planned nuclear waste dump at Muckaty in the
Northern Territory. Activists in protective clothing
offered motorists and passers-by miniature waste drums
containing information leaflets, … “

BACKGROUND TO THE MUCKATY NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP:

– Video

Beyond Nuclear Initiative: Video
[scroll down page] http://beyondnuclearinitiative.wordpress.com/video/
““Muckaty Voices” is a short film capturing community
resistance to an Australian government plan to dump
radioactive waste at Muckaty Station.”

– Media Monitoring

WGAR News: Nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory (2 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/02/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-in-the-northern-territory-2-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (20 Mar 10)
http://groups.google.com.au/group/foblmail/browse_thread/thread/ddc393bb66205849

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump … (28 Mar 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/03/28/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-close-the-gap-day-28-mar-10

WGAR News: Muckaty Radioactive Waste Dump … (4 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/03/wgar-news-muckaty-radioactive-waste-dump-welfare-quarantining-4-apr-10

WGAR News: National day of action against Muckaty nuclear waste dump:
12th April!
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/10/wgar-news-national-day-of-action-against-muckaty-nuclear-waste-dump-12th-april

WGAR News: Nuclear Waste Dump: Senate inquiry in Darwin; Nationwide
protests (17 Apr 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/16/wgar-news-nuclear-waste-dump-senate-inquiry-in-darwin-nationwide-protests-17-apr-10

WGAR News: … Update: Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (23 Apr 10)
[scroll down page]
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/04/22/wgar-news-raw-sewage-dumped-in-ampilatwatja-aboriginal-worker-dismissed-23-apr-10

WGAR News: Update on Muckaty Station Nuclear Waste Dump (2 May 10)
https://wgar.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/02052010-update-on-muckaty-station-nuclear-waste-dump/

WGAR News: “Muckaty Voices” film; Senate Report into nuclear waste
dump plan (16 May 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/05/16/wgar-news-muckaty-voices-film-senate-report-into-nuclear-waste-dump-plan-16-may-10

WGAR News: Federal Court legal challenge over nuclear waste dump (13 Jun 10)
http://indymedia.org.au/2010/06/13/wgar-news-federal-court-legal-challenge-over-nuclear-waste-dump-13-jun-10

CALLS TO REFORM THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION:

– Media Releases

ANTaR: Constitution Day call for election commitment to reform
http://www.antar.org.au/constitution_day_call_for_election_commitment_to_reform
9 Jul 10: “On National Constitution Day, ANTaR calls on all
major parties to make an election commitment to seek reform
of the Australian Constitution to recognise the specific
status and rights of Indigenous peoples. “It is time to
deal with the unfinished business of reconciliation,
including recognising the unique status and rights of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our
nation’s Constitution,” said Dr Janet Hunt, ANTaR
President.”

Australian Human Rights Commission:
Calls for Constitutional recognition on National Aboriginal
and Islanders Day
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2010/72_10.html
9 Jul 10: “Constitutional reform for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples is the next major step towards
reconciliation and full recognition of Indigenous rights,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner Mick Gooda, and Co-Chairs of the National
Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, Sam Jeffries and Dr
Kerry Arabena, said today, on National Constitution Day.
Commissioner Gooda, Mr Jeffries and Dr Arabena used 9 July,
National Constitution Day and also a national day of
celebration of Indigenous people and culture, to call for
an election commitment to Constitutional reform from the
major political parties and independents.”

DEATHS IN CUSTODY PROTEST:

– Video

Perth Indymedia: Video from Deaths in Custody protest 2-7-10
by Alex Bainbridge
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=152131
3 Jul 10: “Over 100 people protested outside the office of
the director of public prosecutions after the DPP announced
that they would not lay ANY charges in the case of the
Warburton elder killed in the back of a prison van in
January 2008. The protest took place Fri 2 July 2010 and was
a prelude to the major public rally on Sun 11 July 2010.”

ABC Lateline: Anger over decision on prison van death
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2010/s2939396.htm
28 Jun 10: “LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: Western Australia’s
Director of Public Prosecutions says no-one will face
criminal charges over the death of an Aboriginal elder
after a trip in a prison van two years ago. The man, known
as Dr Ward – Mr Ward, sorry, died of heat stroke after
being transported hundreds of kilometres across the
Goldfields in extreme conditions. The decision has sparked
an angry reaction from his family and the community.”

– News

ABC: Hundreds protest against death in custody decision
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950444.htm?site=indigenous&topic=latest
11 Jul 10: “Hundreds of people have rallied in Perth to
protest against a decision not to lay charges over the
death of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward. Mr Ward died in 2008
after being transported hundreds of kilometres across the
Goldfields in a prison van with faulty air conditioning.
The temperature in the back of the van was close to 50
degrees.”

NEW WAY SUMMIT: ABORIGINALS TO RETAKE LANDS:

– Media Release

Perth Indymedia: New Way summit: Aboriginals to retake lands
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=newswire&parentview=152171
5 Jul 10: “Aboriginal people have been encouraged to take
possession of unoccupied and Crown lands including
abandoned buildings to assert their ownership and original
title. This proposal comes out of an Aboriginal conference
held in Melbourne from 1-4 July. The third meeting of the
New Way Summit movement, initiated by Michael Anderson,
heard that the Mabo judgment on Native Title was legal
trickery, because hunting, gathering, walking on land,
ceremonies on Country do not constitute a claim to legal
title and ownership, whereas erecting fences, buildings and
clearing of land does as an act of ‘adverse possession’.”

– News

Green Left: New Way Summit: Aboriginal people to retake lands
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44738
11 Jul 10: “At the conclusion of the New Way Summit in
Melbourne over July 1-4, a proposal was adopted stating
that: “Aboriginal people be encouraged to take possession
of unoccupied and Crown lands, including abandoned
buildings, to assert their ownership and original title.”
This was the third New Way Summit on Indigenous rights to
be held. The New Way Summit was initiated by Euahlayi man
Michael Anderson from far-western New South Wales. The
first summit was held in Canberra in January.”

OTHER ABORIGINAL ARTICLES:

– Media Release

Greens: New PM, same disregard for the disadvantaged.
http://rachel-siewert.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/new-pm-same-disregard-disadvantaged
7 Jul 10: “Senator Rachel Siewert, Greens spokesperson for
Community Services has today expressed great disappointment
with the Prime Minister’s decision to continue punitive
income management measures in the Northern Territory.
“Despite a change in leader, the Government is persisting
with this draconian approach to the most marginalised
people in our society,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“It is disappointing to hear the Prime Minister repeating
the rhetoric of Minister Jenny Macklin, making claims about
income management that are not supported by the evidence.“”

– Analysis/Opinion

Treaty Republic:
Indigenous Land Corporation accused of defrauding
Aboriginal people
http://treatyrepublic.net/content/indigenous-land-corporation-accused-defrauding-aboriginal-people
11 Jul 10: “Aboriginal people across Australia are
expressing great concerns and anger at the operations of
the government’s Indigenous Land Corporation, whose task is
to purchase and give land to Aboriginal people unable to
claim it through Native Title. Political activist Michael
Anderson, leader of the 3,000 Euahlayi living on both sides
of the Queensland and NSW border, says he is receiving
calls about this from various parts of the country.”

On Line Opinion: Punishing poverty
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=10659
8 Jul 10: “Recent legislation introduced by the Federal
Government sees welfare recipients across the Northern
Territory lose control of at least 50 per cent of their
income. … But welfare groups haven’t been so quick to
applaud the scheme. More than 90 submissions were given to
the government opposing the reforms, with only two
submissions supporting it.”

– News

ABC: NAIDOC award winner blasts intervention laws
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/11/2950375.htm
11 Jul 10: “The winner of the NAIDOC lifetime achievement
award in Darwin last night has called on the Federal
Government to rethink its “draconian” Indigenous
intervention laws. In accepting the award, the Labor Member
for Arafura, Marion Scrymgour, criticised the intervention,
saying it “completely demoralises” Aboriginal people.”

Green Left:
Indigenous leader slams major parties’
‘race to the bottom’ on refugees
http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/44699
9 Jul 10: “Brisbane Murri activist and Socialist Alliance
Senate candidate Sam Watson made the following comments on
July 8 on the anti-refugee policies of the two major parties.
* * * PM Julia Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott are
involved in a headlong race to the bottom of the political
pile with their policies on asylum seekers. There is no
sign of humanity, no compassion, no generosity of spirit.”


NEW WAY SUMMIT: ABORIGINALS TO RETAKE LANDSMEDIA RELEASE

Posted in MEDIA RELEASES on 06/07/2010 by D

Melbourne 5 July 2010 —Aboriginal people have been encouraged to take possession of unoccupied and Crown lands including abandoned buildings to assert their ownership and original title.This proposal comes out of an Aboriginal conference held in Melbourne from 1-4 July. The third meeting of the New Way Summit movement, initiated by Michael Anderson, heard that the Mabo judgment on Native Title was legal trickery, because hunting, gathering, walking on land, ceremonies on Country do not constitute a claim to legal title and ownership, whereas erecting fences, buildings and clearing of land does as an act of ‘adverse possession’.Adverse possession is the means by which the colonizers asserts title to alleged ‘wild country’.Anderson, legally trained in Western and Aboriginal law, advised the conference that the Crown and ‘squatter rights ‘ are totally underpinned by a ‘Doctrine of Discovery’, which has its origin in the Papal Bulls (bull = seal) issued in 1453 and thereafter.“The Papal Bulls defined Aboriginal Peoples and all non-Christians as animals and brutes to be the legitimate prey of Christian monarchs, who were then carving up the world between them,” Anderson said. The conference participants were advised that before taking this assertive action they need to challenge the colonizers’ jurisdiction over their sovereign lands.Anderson suggested they follow the action of his Euahlayi people by writing to the Queen, the Governor-General, their state Premiers and the Prime Minister demanding they prove they have jurisdiction over Australia. The Euahlayi demand that the authorities produce certified copies of documentation where the people allegedly ceded and acquiesced their sovereignty and title to their lands by way of signed surrender documents.“Obviously no such documents exist, this admission by the authorities will establish and confirm Aboriginal ownership. Any action of reclamation by Aboriginal people cannot be considered an act of theft or trespass. These admissions are a shield against colonial coppers.”Gary Foley, like Anderson, an original member of the 1970s Black Power movement said, “We must activate the grassroots people so that they become actively involved in controlling their own affairs. Talk of international operations and grandiose challenges without grassroots action means nothing.”The conference resolved that international legal and political challenges are now pending and will be mounted within the coming months.The Victorian convenor of the third New Way Summit, Sharon Firebrace, told the meeting that in the last 30 years Aboriginal affairs has become corrupt to the core through politicians and government bureaucrats and their Aboriginal collaborators, which gave the government the pretext to shut down our self-determination.Anderson says, “The lure of mining royalties is the new colonial method to make our people sign away their rights to land.”The summit resolved to set up a system to name and shame treasonous activities by Aboriginal collaborators.The next New Way Summits are planned for Darwin at the end of July and Townsville in early August.Contact: Michael Anderson 0427 292 492, 02 68296355 ngurampaa@bigpond.com
MEDIA RELEASE
Melbourne 5 July 2010 —

Aboriginal people have been encouraged to take possession of unoccupied and Crown lands including abandoned buildings to assert their ownership and original title.
This proposal comes out of an Aboriginal conference held in Melbourne from 1-4 July.
The third meeting of the New Way Summit movement, initiated by Michael Anderson, heard that the Mabo judgment on Native Title was legal trickery, because hunting, gathering, walking on land, ceremonies on Country do not constitute a claim to legal title and ownership, whereas erecting fences, buildings and clearing of land does as an act of ‘adverse possession’.
Adverse possession is the means by which the colonizers asserts title to alleged ‘wild country’.
Anderson, legally trained in Western and Aboriginal law, advised the conference that the Crown and ‘squatter rights ‘ are totally underpinned by a ‘Doctrine of Discovery’, which has its origin in the Papal Bulls (bull = seal) issued in 1453 and thereafter.
“The Papal Bulls defined Aboriginal Peoples and all non-Christians as animals and brutes to be the legitimate prey of Christian monarchs, who were then carving up the world between them,” Anderson said.

The conference participants were advised that before taking this assertive action they need to challenge the colonizers’ jurisdiction over their sovereign lands.
Anderson suggested they follow the action of his Euahlayi people by writing to the Queen, the Governor-General, their state Premiers and the Prime Minister demanding they prove they have jurisdiction over Australia.
The Euahlayi demand that the authorities produce certified copies of documentation where the people allegedly ceded and acquiesced their sovereignty and title to their lands by way of signed surrender documents.
“Obviously no such documents exist, this admission by the authorities will establish and confirm Aboriginal ownership. Any action of reclamation by Aboriginal people cannot be considered an act of theft or trespass. These admissions are a shield against colonial coppers.”
Gary Foley, like Anderson, an original member of the 1970s Black Power movement said, “We must activate the grassroots people so that they become actively involved in controlling their own affairs. Talk of international operations and grandiose challenges without grassroots action means nothing.”
The conference resolved that international legal and political challenges are now pending and will be mounted within the coming months.
The Victorian convenor of the third New Way Summit, Sharon Firebrace, told the meeting that in the last 30 years Aboriginal affairs has become corrupt to the core through politicians and government bureaucrats and their Aboriginal collaborators, which gave the government the pretext to shut down our self-determination.
Anderson says, “The lure of mining royalties is the new colonial method to make our people sign away their rights to land.”
The summit resolved to set up a system to name and shame treasonous activities by Aboriginal collaborators.
The next New Way Summits are planned for Darwin at the end of July and Townsville in early August.
Contact: Michael Anderson 0427 292 492, 02 68296355 ngurampaa@bigpond.com