Monday April 14 6pm Redfern Community Centre
BBQ provided
Speakers include:
* Vince Forrester - Elder from Mutitjulu community
* Monique Wiseman - Aboriginal Rights Coalition activist, recently
returned from solidarity work in Darwin town camps
* Darren Dick, HREOC
Two months after Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generation, a new
wave of dispossession in sweeping through the Northern Territory.
The NT intervention has introduced a punitive welfare regime and seen
the closure of many services in remote communities. Large numbers of
people are being forced into the major urban centres, where they can
not access employment or accommodation. Last Thursday and Friday in
Alice Springs, a "special police operation" targeting "anti-social
behaviour" (ie Aboriginal people in public spaces) saw 188 people
taken into custody.
Vince Forrester is a long time land rights activist and Aboriginal
leader. He is from Mutitjulu, a proud community whose demonisation
paved the way to the federal intervention. He will discuss the
devastating impact this policy is having on his people - from the
intimidating police raids through to the closure of the local high
school and health care facilities. He will also discuss strategies for
reasserting self-determination and campaigning to seriously address
disadvantage.
Monique Wiseman has recently returned from Darwin. She will speak
about the deteriorating conditions in Darwin's town camps, whose
populations have doubled through the intervention as people are forced
in from remote communities.
This forum will also provide an opportunity to talk about the way
forward for the campaign against the Northern Territory intervention.
The Aboriginal Rights Coalition is preparing for a national conference
in May. We are also building for mass rallies on June 21, marking one
year since the intervention.
Come along, here the stories first hand and get involved in the campaign!
For more info see: aboriginalrightscoalition.wordpress.com
Contact: Greg Eatock 0432050240 Paddy Gibson 0415800586
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Students of Sustainability 2008
Students Of Sustainability 2008
July 5th-9th: Newcastle, New South Wales
Students of Sustainability (SoS) is a five day camping conference for anyone interested in creating a more ecologically and socially sustainable world.
SoS '08 will be held at the University of Newcastle, from the 5th - 9th July, on the lands of the Pambalong, Awabakal and Woroni peoples.
At SoS, students and environmental activists are given the opportunity to learn from the stories and struggles of Traditional Owners from many nations around Australia. As campaigners for social and environmental justice, it is important for us to recognise the past and ongoing custodianship of this land, and to stand in solidarity with Traditional Owners who continue to fight for clean country and strong culture. Forums such as SoS are an important place to gather, share stories and plan campaigns in support of real sustainability and sovereignty for indigenous Australians.
To assist indigenous delegates attending SoS, a reduced or waived fee for conference registration will be offered, along with transport and accommodation assistance for speakers and presenters. We are hoping that delegates from many nations, including those far from the east coast, will be able to come to SoS 2008; there are many ways that you can help to make this a reality.
What you can do:
- Organise transport for your state network or collective to get to SoS 2008
- Invite indigenous students from your campus or school to come to SoS
- Fundraise to assist Traditional Owners from your area attending SoS
- Talk to Traditional Owners in your area about their campaigns, issues and struggles, and how your collectives can help.
For more information:
www.studentsofsustainability.org
July 5th-9th: Newcastle, New South Wales
Students of Sustainability (SoS) is a five day camping conference for anyone interested in creating a more ecologically and socially sustainable world.
SoS '08 will be held at the University of Newcastle, from the 5th - 9th July, on the lands of the Pambalong, Awabakal and Woroni peoples.
At SoS, students and environmental activists are given the opportunity to learn from the stories and struggles of Traditional Owners from many nations around Australia. As campaigners for social and environmental justice, it is important for us to recognise the past and ongoing custodianship of this land, and to stand in solidarity with Traditional Owners who continue to fight for clean country and strong culture. Forums such as SoS are an important place to gather, share stories and plan campaigns in support of real sustainability and sovereignty for indigenous Australians.
To assist indigenous delegates attending SoS, a reduced or waived fee for conference registration will be offered, along with transport and accommodation assistance for speakers and presenters. We are hoping that delegates from many nations, including those far from the east coast, will be able to come to SoS 2008; there are many ways that you can help to make this a reality.
What you can do:
- Organise transport for your state network or collective to get to SoS 2008
- Invite indigenous students from your campus or school to come to SoS
- Fundraise to assist Traditional Owners from your area attending SoS
- Talk to Traditional Owners in your area about their campaigns, issues and struggles, and how your collectives can help.
For more information:
www.studentsofsustainability.org
Sunday, March 30, 2008
March 13 demonstration at Redfern Centrelink
Video of March 13 demonstration at Redfern Centrelink demanding repeal
of all NT intervention legislation. Thanks to Frank Jones.
Cut and paste into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5Er9jdxNo
of all NT intervention legislation. Thanks to Frank Jones.
Cut and paste into your browser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5Er9jdxNo
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
SBS 'Insight' programme silences Aboriginal dissent
Media release 19/3/08 of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition Sydney
Last night, March 18, the SBS Insight programme entitled 'Are They Safer', about the Northern Territory intervention went to air. Several Aboriginal representatives from affected communities in the NT have expressed dissatisfaction with selection process for the show and the way that dialogue was framed by the programme.
Initially, Insight planned to film in Alice Springs. Following arrangements being made by people from numerous 'prescribed' areas to attend the show, the producers moved filming to Sydney.
After doing extensive interviews with Barbara and Walter Shaw from Mt Nancy town camp, Insight refused to guarantee them a spot on the program. Only after consistent lobbying by supporters was Barbara allowed to attend, but Walter was told there was no space.
In contrast, four representatives were selected from Hermannsberg community near Alice Springs. Hermannsberg is unique in that, unlike many of the 'prescribed' communities, it supports the intervention. It is also one of the few NT communities to support the Country Liberal Party, whereas the overwhelming majority of Aboriginal people in the NT voted Labor in the last election.
"I think it was unfair that there wasn't a lot of people from the communities and they just had hand-picked people," said Barbara Shaw , who appeared on the programme. "I just didn't agree with the show or the way they went about it."
Barbara Shaw also disputed the representativeness of the selected Aboriginal speakers, saying that there is an issue amongst Aboriginal people of urban Aboriginal people speaking for those from remote communities. "I get permission from the remote communities to talk on their behalf," she said.
In contrast to the views of a “former resident of Yuendumu” who spoke in favour of the intervention, the Yuendumu community have been united in vehement opposition. The president of the community council Harry Nelson, led a delegation from Yuendumu to protest in Canberra on February 12 to call for repeal of the Emergency Response legislation.
"Whilst we welcome Insight looking at the issue, the basis on which they pursued the issue was skewed in favour of the intervention," said Greg Eatock of the National Aboriginal Alliance and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, who also appeared on the programme.
“There were no questions from the presenter about many of the punitive aspects of the intervention which affected people have described as racist, such as compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land and the installation of ‘business managers’ with extraordinary powers”.
Five other Aboriginal members of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition had been told they would be allowed to appear in the audience of the programme, but had the invitations withdrawn the night before filming.
The Aboriginal Rights Coalition is continuing to call for the repeal of the intervention legislation. The new paternalism seen through intervention measures can’t replace the desperate need for funding of Aboriginal services on the ground. ARC is working with affected communities to organise a national day of action on June 21.
For more info contact:
Barbara Shaw 0401291166
Greg Eatock 0432050240
Last night, March 18, the SBS Insight programme entitled 'Are They Safer', about the Northern Territory intervention went to air. Several Aboriginal representatives from affected communities in the NT have expressed dissatisfaction with selection process for the show and the way that dialogue was framed by the programme.
Initially, Insight planned to film in Alice Springs. Following arrangements being made by people from numerous 'prescribed' areas to attend the show, the producers moved filming to Sydney.
After doing extensive interviews with Barbara and Walter Shaw from Mt Nancy town camp, Insight refused to guarantee them a spot on the program. Only after consistent lobbying by supporters was Barbara allowed to attend, but Walter was told there was no space.
In contrast, four representatives were selected from Hermannsberg community near Alice Springs. Hermannsberg is unique in that, unlike many of the 'prescribed' communities, it supports the intervention. It is also one of the few NT communities to support the Country Liberal Party, whereas the overwhelming majority of Aboriginal people in the NT voted Labor in the last election.
"I think it was unfair that there wasn't a lot of people from the communities and they just had hand-picked people," said Barbara Shaw , who appeared on the programme. "I just didn't agree with the show or the way they went about it."
Barbara Shaw also disputed the representativeness of the selected Aboriginal speakers, saying that there is an issue amongst Aboriginal people of urban Aboriginal people speaking for those from remote communities. "I get permission from the remote communities to talk on their behalf," she said.
In contrast to the views of a “former resident of Yuendumu” who spoke in favour of the intervention, the Yuendumu community have been united in vehement opposition. The president of the community council Harry Nelson, led a delegation from Yuendumu to protest in Canberra on February 12 to call for repeal of the Emergency Response legislation.
"Whilst we welcome Insight looking at the issue, the basis on which they pursued the issue was skewed in favour of the intervention," said Greg Eatock of the National Aboriginal Alliance and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, who also appeared on the programme.
“There were no questions from the presenter about many of the punitive aspects of the intervention which affected people have described as racist, such as compulsory acquisition of Aboriginal land and the installation of ‘business managers’ with extraordinary powers”.
Five other Aboriginal members of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition had been told they would be allowed to appear in the audience of the programme, but had the invitations withdrawn the night before filming.
The Aboriginal Rights Coalition is continuing to call for the repeal of the intervention legislation. The new paternalism seen through intervention measures can’t replace the desperate need for funding of Aboriginal services on the ground. ARC is working with affected communities to organise a national day of action on June 21.
For more info contact:
Barbara Shaw 0401291166
Greg Eatock 0432050240
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