Arrests At Lake Cowal Spark Hunger Strike

Work stopped at Lake Cowal Gold Mine with eight arrested: From the newswire 16 April 2006... Mining operations at Barrick’s Lake Cowal Gold Project were stopped for over five hours on Easter Sunday while a group of nearly one hundred, walked on to the mine site. The group included representatives from every state of the country, Wiradjuri traditional owners and locals, half a dozen scientists, grandparents, students, filmmakers, artists and more, all united in their concerns over the mine’s safety and social implications. [ SAVE LAKE COWAL ] :: [ Corporate Media Report ] Eight people were arrested during the stop work action, with one supporter locking on to earthmoving machinery. One of the arrestees refused bail conditions, and will will go on hunger strike for the protection of water, as a statement against the cyanide being used at the Lake Cowal Gold Project. [ CYANIDE WATCH ] “We are pleased with the peaceful walk-on at the Lake Cowal mine site, hopefully it will send a message out to the directors and CEO of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation (WCC) and Barrick gold, that the Wiradjuri Nation is not for sale!” Mark Powell, a local Wiradjuri man said. Barrick Gold is now the world's largest gold mining company with 3 new mines under construction, all of which have been opposed by local and indigenous communities over environmental and social impacts. “Lake Cowal is still Wiradjuri Land, Wiradjuri sovereignty has never been ceded. The Wiradjuri Nation has protected Lake Cowal from the beginning of time...” Ellie Gilbert, an arrestee stated... READ MORE/Comment...

Action: Refugee rights easter convergence

Easter Convergence: VIGIL AGAINST THE VIOLENCE. Perth Immigration Detention Centre - Good Friday 14 - Easter Sunday 16 April 2006 Hundreds of concerned Australians from across the country are converging this weekend - in a series of rolling protests against the Mandatory Detention of refugees. A dozen or so WA activists made the journey to Villawood in Sydney, where 260 detainees were forcibly removed and relocated by DIMA before the activists arrived at the centre. NSW Police Union earlier refused to protect the centre amidst claims of asbestos fears. Around 100 people converged at Holsworthy Army Barracks, where some of the refugees were sent, then camped in a makeshift border-camp near the 50-year-old Detention Centre. On Sunday around 250 people delivered a list of violations of the UNRC to Kirribilli House. Perth Refugee Rights Action Network are gearing up to show support at the Perth IDC. Vigil against the Violence! Sydney : [ Action at Holsworthy Army Barracks - Photos ] :: [ Villawood Protest: Day 1 ] :: [ Protests continue at Villawood Detention Centre - Day 2 - Photos ] :: [ Perth refugee rights supporters protest at Kirribilli House - Photos ] PERTH: In solidarity with the international weekend of action on refugee rights, and in particular with the Villawood convergence, Perth refugee rights activists are encouraged to spend some time at the Perth Airport Immigration Detention Centre, Brearley Avenue, near the domestic terminal. Meet from noon Good Friday. Some of us will be camping through till Easter Sunday night. We will have banner making material on site and a list of the major flights in and out. All cars arriving at the terminal have to stop near the centre to get into the car park, so when a big flight is coming or going there's lots of opportunity for leafleting. All welcome. Phone 9371 3791 or 0417 904 329 for more details. [ 2006 Global Day Action Against Immigration Detention ] Recent Refugee rights stories on Perth Indymedia: [ Perth Immigration Detention Centre: Vigil against the Violence ] [ ANNOUNCING: A violent demonstration this weekend ] [ Riot Gear for refugees arrives on Christmas Island ] [ Refugee activists to march on Holsworthy Army Barracks ] [ Why go to Villawood - Perth Indy Radio ] [ PROTESTS AGAINST DETENTION WILL GO AHEAD THIS EASTER ] [ Australian Government to transfer all asylum seekers offshore ] [ Villawood detainees relocated over asbestos ] [ Cops call for immediate Villawood detention centre closure ] Publish YOUR story!

Aboriginal Cultural Centre should be recognised

From the newswire - Monday, 10 April 2006, 8:40PM: Camp Sovereignty residents at Kings Domain have called for the site to be formally recognised as a Sacred Site under the Commonwealth Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Heritage Act. [ Read More: Camp Soverignty gets another month ] "This site should be recognised for what it is, and what it has always been; a traditional place of healing, peace and justice. It is in the interest of all Victorians to have a place where people can come to learn about our culture." said Camp Sovereignty representative Robbie Thorpe today. "Given that 80% of international tourists want to experience Aboriginal culture while they are here, it makes sense to have a place within the Melbourne cultural precinct dedicated to traditional Aboriginal culture. The Sacred Fire that is burning here is representative of the oldest known cultural ceremony on this planet. It is essential that the fire is managed in a traditional way in a site that is of spiritual significance to Aboriginal people." "The benefits to having this Sacred Fire have already become evident with local Police reportedly experiencing quieter Melbourne streets in regards to homeless people and parkies. The realisation that traditional law was in place a stones throw from the city centre has resonated throughout the community. Now parkies are visiting the Fire, seeing their culture at work and feeling that just maybe there is a place for them in this so-called modern world." [ Stolenwealth Games ] "The Government needs to recognise this site under the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Heritage Act immediately and continue constructive discussions between all parties to ensure that this site and the Sacred Fire are treated with the proper dignity and respect as accorded under the Australian Constitution." [ The BLACK GST ] READ MORE/Comment... [ Melbourne Indymedia Feature ]

Feds ban wind farm - but push climate change to full power

From the newswire: April 07, 2006 - The Federal Government stops a huge wind farm in Gippsland because it "might" kill a parrot a year. Yet around a hundred die already. Meanwhile they dont stop logging, don't sign Kyoto and promote coal and nuclear power. The blatantly political decision is not only inappropriate but will call into question future investment in renewable energy right around the country. This is about the federal Government forsaking renewable energy to look after its fossil-fuel mates. On the basis of a report into the collective impact of wind farms on some of Australia's threatened bird species, the Federal Government has banned the development of a Victorian windfarm. Environmental groups, businesses and the Victorian Government have condemned the Howard Government for blocking a $220million wind farm that would significantly reduce greenhouse emissions in order to save a potential parrot a year. This "baffling" decision jeopardises investment in renewable energy. Premier Bracks reckons the decision was influenced by political donations to the Howard Government by energy companies. And is payback for a local vote-buying excercise. "His actual report says that not a single orange-bellied parrot was observed near the proposed Bald Hills wind farm..." Environment Victoria said the decision to block the facility did not make sense. "Scientists are forecasting climate change will wipe out thousands of species of birds, yet we see the federal Government making a decision that's acting to protect one bird a year." Chief executive of the wind farm developer, Wind Power, said the company had spent millions of dollars on the project and was seeking advice about any potential legal action. "We'd be more than happy to do whatever we could to make sure we didn't have a negative impact on these parrots," he said. The Australian Wind Energy Association said Senator Campbell had based his "baffling" decision on a report that showed almost zero effect on the orange-bellied parrot from wind farms, even after assuming a worst-case scenario. The orange-bellied parrot had never been spotted in the contentious area. Birds Australia said the closest sighting of the bird to the Bald Hills was about 50km away. More than 100 orange-bellied parrots have died annually through all other natural causes over the past eight years. READ MORE/Comment...

Let them eat Yellowcake: National Protests at Uranium Sales to China

From the Newswires - April 5, 2006: Across Australia today community, environment and peace groups held yellowcake stalls to protest the signing of a deal to sell uranium to China. “Selling uranium is a crumby idea at the best of times,” said Louise Morris, spokesperson for Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Melbourne. “but we could really get our fingers burnt with this most recent deal.” China is a nuclear weapons state with around 400 nuclear warheads. For them to have access to a reliable source of cheap and plentiful uranium is just the icing on the cake. “The half baked assurances that Australian uranium won’t go into nuclear weapons programs are laughable,” said Nat Wasley, spokesperson for Arid Lands Environment Centre - Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Alice Springs “China loses hundreds of workers to industrial and mining accidents each year, and sees untold environmental damage as a result of these too,” stated Scott Ludlam, spokesperson for Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia. “Adding yellowcake into the mix is just a recipe for disaster.” Ms Morris concluded by saying, “The major political parties are playing packet mix politics to the mining lobby – just add water to get the instant policy you want. “But the Australian community have shown time and again that they are willing to turn up the heat to stop nuclear projects, and we will do so again.” Groups in Alice Springs, Melbourne and Perth tested their recipes today, with Canberra preparing for a "pie on ya face" gallery on Friday and Brisbane keeping their concoctions a secret until Sunday. Dr Jim Green, Friends of the Earth Nuclear Campaigner: “While the China National Nuclear Corporation busies itself converting Australian uranium into Weapons of Mass Destruction, all that is required under the terms of the agreement is that at some, unspecified part of the nuclear fuel cycle, an equivalent amount of nuclear material is subject to safeguards. Verifying that such a transfer has occurred is easier said than done. As the government’s documents also acknowledge, IAEA inspections of China's facilities are carried out on a "selective" basis.” "With proposed exports of 10,000 tonnes of uranium per year, the Chinese regime could build 2,000 nuclear weapons per year using Australian uranium - without even breaching the terms of the disgraceful agreement struck between the Howard government and the Chinese regime..." READ MORE/Comment...

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