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Andrew
Joined: 26 Oct 2004
Posts: 1015
Location: Australia
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 Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 06:26 |
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Arnhem Land under threat
Passing on this info from a good friend who's living there at the moment.
TRADITIONAL ABORIGINAL LAND THREATENED
On November 30th 2006, traditional land owners are expected to make a decision about the future of their ancestral land. Amendments to the Land Rights Act 1976 will see some of the last standing traditionally owned and occupied lands taken away from Aboriginal people across Australia under harsh Government reforms already underway. Four traditional Aboriginal communities are being targeted in the Northern Territory and are being heavily pressured to give up control of their lands to a Government body called the ICC on a 99 year lease.
This is an urgent matter, traditional owners and community members have a right to more time and less pressure from the Government to make this decision in just a few weeks. Most community members and council members are ill-informed about the Bill, due to the heavy use of legal jargon as well as basic literacy barriers. How can we expect these people to make an ‘informed’ decision when they do not understand even the most basic concepts of the Bill?
The proposed lease provisions will effectively take away the rights of the traditional owners to decide who and what takes place on their ancestral lands for 99 years. Companies, services and non-traditional owners will be able to lease land from the government rather than obtaining consent from the land-owners on a case-by-case basis. In effect, the land owners will lose control of their land for four generations.
Arnhem Land has been in the care of the Aboriginal people who have ancestral links for over 50,000 years. This place is stunning! And there is no need for non-indigenous 'development' ideas to help bring the standard of living up to ours. Nor should their general well being be bargained with for a 99 year lease. There needs to be serious talks with the Aboriginal mob about what 'they' want.
If this Bill passes and Laws are changed, we will be sure to see this pristine, untouched place in Australia bulldozed to the ground for aluminium mining with a handful of Aboriginal people with bank balances that resemble the greed that this whole idea manifests from.
The Yolngu people here need more time to think about the next 99 years of their culture. By raising awareness in the media about this, we hope the Government will back off the pressure and create an arena for discussion that is fair and just to the traditional people of this land.
We are asking for MEDIA ATTENTION on this issue, as it has received very little so far, probably due to the controversy it would ignite.
If you want any more information on this issue, let me know and I can email you.
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Knjaz
Joined: 01 Feb 2006
Posts: 803
Location: Stuck in your computer
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 08:40 |
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Sad, very sad... |
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lilyjammer
Moderator & Jamily Coach
Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 735
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 09:26 |
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Sad, but typical of the actions of the dollar-driven government... What is sadder still is that the overwhelming majority of the Australian populace couldn't give a damn. The lucky country? I think not.
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jay88
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 281
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:57 |
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I think people do give a damn... but this is the first I've heard of this issue. Like, i watch the news pretty regularly and read the papers... but it seems things like this aren't deemed 'newsworthy'... but that's just as sad i guess. |
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Andrew
Joined: 26 Oct 2004
Posts: 1015
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 14:04 |
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Yeah, same, I had no idea about this at all until I got the email...
No doubt if it does get on the news, what's the bet it'll be after it's too late for most people to do anything about it? - hopefully not.
It's so typical of our right-leaning government to do stuff on the sly like this, and the opposition is so weak and not much better either - why isn't Peter Garrett the shadow environment minister for gods sake!!! Surely that's a no-brainer?!
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jamirokaki
Expert
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 3472
Location: basque country
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 14:42 |
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it's sad to see all the powers in the world going against aboriginals of all the world, same happened with natives of north, middle and south america, and same with older cultures and countrys of europe, asia and africa.
we all should support the ancient cultures and lands, and fight the rotten powers.
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jay88
Joined: 22 Apr 2005
Posts: 281
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 15:57 |
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| Andrew wrote: |
| why isn't Peter Garrett the shadow environment minister for gods sake!!! Surely that's a no-brainer?! |
Haha there was a big editorial about that in the Herald (i think) the other day... It certainly would make a lot of sense...
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
Posts: 2717
Location: +001
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| Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 17:31 |
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what a great post andy.
i'm pressed for time, but i'll print it out and read it later today.
zed and sola would really be interested in this...going to send it to them.
thanks again andy.
xo
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Andrew
Joined: 26 Oct 2004
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Location: Australia
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deesh
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Samiroquai
Joined: 13 Jul 2005
Posts: 1020
Location: North Somerset and Manchester, both in England
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deesh
Joined: 23 Feb 2002
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Andrew
Joined: 26 Oct 2004
Posts: 1015
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 07:20 |
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| Andrew wrote: |
| ...why isn't Peter Garrett the shadow environment minister for gods sake!!! Surely that's a no-brainer?! |
And what-do-you-know, with the recent change in government here, this guy is actually our federal minister for the environment now (he used to be a member of the green party and fronted an environmentally conscious rock band in the 80s/90s called Midnight Oil - check them out, the sound is pretty Oz). I'm so happy the conservatives got the arse - maybe good things will start happening now.
The long-awaited apology to the indigenous people is well overdue and will hopefully just be the start of things to come... |
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