Newsletter
Newsletter_Final9_603422928.pdf - 884.58 Kb
NEWSLETTER Vol. 1 Issue 1 DECEMBER 2009
The Give Us a Go campaign
Give us a go is a Cape York conservation movement that is pressing for real river and catchment conservation. We believe a river protection solution should include:
• no mines
• no dams
• no excessive extraction of water
The Give us a go team is campaigning to have Wild Rivers revoked on Cape York and a new river protection system developed.
Our Rivers Our Way
A Way Forward:
1. Revoke Cape York declarations
2. Stop wild river declarations on Cape York
3. For new ‘ecologically sustainable development’ river protection systems, to be negotiated in good faith with traditional owners in accordance with the Native Title Act
Legal action against Wild Rivers
The Wik People again take on a government over land
The campaign has been significantly boosted by the support of Greg McIntyre SC, lawyer for Eddie Mabo in the 1990s and John Koowarta (v. Bjelke-Petersen, to London's Privy Council) in the 1980s. Along with instructing solicitors, Greg is preparing legal advice on a possible court case. The inclusion of the Wik people has powerful symbolic reference to past land rights struggles.
Jason O’Brien does NOT get it
The Queensland government is rattled by the success of the Give Us a Go campaign and has sent in teams of bureaucrats into communities. The local labor MP Jason O'Brien is also ramping up his reaction to our campaign, making hysterical claims in a letter to local residents.
Both the government and Jason O’Brien continue to say that Wild Rivers has no impact on native title rights because of a “get out” clause in the law.
But Mabo lawyer Greg McIntyre says:
• Wild Rivers has the effect of extinguishing native title.
• The Queensland government did not negotiate in good faith with indigenous communities, thus avoiding its responsibilities under native title legislations.
Koowarta Day 2009
Wednesday 9 December
To mark the resurrection of community strength demonstrated during past land rights struggles the Wik people of Aurukun have announced John Koowarta Day on the 9th of December.
Cape York Rising: A Community Campaign
Over the past four months the campaign team has held public meetings in most Cape communities, talking with councils and affected Traditional Owners, alerting people to the threats posed by the Wild Rivers legislation.
NO World Heritage until Wild Rivers MESS is fixed
At a meeting with Federal Environment Peter Garrett, the Chairman of the Cape York Land Council Michael Ross insisted that there would be NO WORLD HERITAGE NEGOTIATIONS until the Wild Rivers mess had been fixed.
Chairman Ross handed Garrett a letter addressed to the Prime Minister. Kevin Rudd asked to step up and urge his fellow Queenslander Premier Anna Bligh to negotiate a new river protection scheme that involves negotiation with Traditional Owners.
Join Cape York: Donate NOW
Help transform the aspirations of indigenous Cape York
peoples into reality. Give US a Go has no doubt that we can succeed if
Australians of goodwill stand beside us in our
determination to protect both the environment and
Aboriginal economic opportunities.
We can fight for the rights of indigenous children to grow
up knowing they have employment prospects.
We CAN close the gap.
ACT NOW
Donate: Contact George at bulluna@aus2.net (website
donation portal coming soon at www.giveusago.com.au)
Join the Campaign: Contact Darren on 0448 405 225 or
email darrenvjwall@gmail.com.au
