Australia: Indigenous Elders Call For Direct Action to Save Old
Growth Forests
2/22/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Australia: Indigenous Elders Call For Direct Action to Save
Old Growth Forests
Source: Friends of the Earth Fitzroy Australia
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: February 22, 1999
Dear friends,
attached are two recent media releases from traditional owners from
western Victoria, Australia, who have called for direct action to
defend old growth forests. A small camp of activists is based on the
Lake Condah Aboriginal Mission.
Messages of support to Aunty Betty King and others can be sent via
this address.
in solidarity,
Friends of the Earth - Fitzroy - Australia
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*** Media Alert***
People Unite to Protest Destruction of Native Forests.
Monday February 22nd 1999
Indigenous People & Conservationists will gather inside the
Cobboboonee State Forest at midday, Tuesday February 23rd to hold a
demonstration against the logging in the Forests of Victoria's
SouthWest. Protestors will be addressed by Aunty Betty King,
Gournditch Mar Yigar-Kerrup Dhautwurrung Elder and eldest surviving
descendant of the King of the Yigar Clan.
Representative for Aunty Betty King & Elder of the Yigar and
KerrupJmara community, Sandra Onus said "We fully intend as the
traditional owners with standing in the High Courts, to pursue to the
full extent of the Law/Lore to stop the desecration & destruction of
our homelands for the future of all the children of all
nationalities".
INDIGENOUS STATEMENT
We, The Indigenous owners of Dhaurtwurung Gournditch Mar Kerrup Mar,
Yigar demand a complete stop to all forestry/mining or earth
disturbance on the basis of the following:
Lack of consultation with traditional owners/native title claimants.
Environmental impact studies and cultural heritage issues have not
been addressed
Lack of consideration or respect for Aboriginal Lore Media should
meet outside the Portland Post Office, Percy Street, Portland at
11:30 am Tuesday February 23rd
For more information call Friends of the Earth on 03 9419 8700
***Media Release***
2pm Friday February 19th
Portland Victoria
Logging of the Cobbobanee and other Forests Must Stop Say Aboriginal
People and Conservationists at Sit In.
There will be a sit in at the office of Denis Napthune, Percy St
Portland, Friday February 19th at 2pm. The protest will include
representatives of the Aboriginal community and members of the
environmental movement. The sit in will be addressed by Aunty Betty
King, Gournditch Mar Yigar-Kerrup Dhaurtwurrung Elder & eldest
surviving descendant of the King of the Yigar clan.
Protestors are alarmed at the increase in logging in native forest in
the Portland District.
The group hopes to raise these matters with Mr Napthune, in order
that Mr Napthune can speak directly to the Premier Jeff Kennett about
these issues.
The group has a number of demands;
Local Traditional owners are very angry that there has been no
consultation in any government process (Be that State or Federal
throughout the whole area, including the Regional Forest Agreements)
which have impacted upon forested areas.
The group demands a cease to all forestry operations until
consultation has taken place in the first instance with indigenous
owners/ native title claimants, with further negotiations to take
place which involve all stake holders, including industry, green
groups, community groups etc.
Failure to comply with these demands will leave the group with no
alternative but to seek legal advice to proceed with possibly an
interlocutory injunction to stop all forestry operations including
native forests and softwood plantations. Protestors are also
examining the possibility of direct action in the forests in the very
near future.
Spokesperson for Friends of the Earth Anthony Amis said that " The
wanton destruction of our environment is a matter which all people
should be concerned about. Since the election of the Kennett
government, the amount of destruction in Victoria's forests has
worsened. Everywhere we go people are saying that they are very
worried about what the Woodchipping Cartels are doing to our precious
native forests. We fully support aboriginal communities in defence
of their homelands against the ravages of the Kennett Government."
for messages call 5578 4249