Brothers and Sisters,
FMG’s VIDEO BACKFIRES
A lot has happened since FMG acted to remove our video from the Vimeo Host site with legal threats – interest in our video and our story has redoubled. Even though FMG has bought advertising on GOOGLE to put their corporate video – “The True Yindjibarndi Story” aka “The Yindjibarndi Meeting” – at the top of all GOOGLE searches in an effort to hijack and confuse people searching for our video, this just seems to have boosted interest in “FMG’s Great Native Title Swindle”, and also attracted the attention of mass media. ‘Social media’ especially is not buying the FMG spin. See HOTLINKS bulletin below for media coverage.
YINDJIBARNDI REPLY TO ANDREW FORREST
See articles attached [or visit www.yindjibarndi.org.au/]
After a week of intense attention to FMG and Andrew Forrest’s controversial dealing with the Yindjibarndi people over land access, which was triggered by the video “FMG’s Great Native Title Swindle”, Andrew Forrest was privileged by an opinion piece in The Weekend West(AGENDA 9 April 2011, p66). The West Australian gave Yindjibarndi and Michael Woodley a right of reply the following week (The Weekend West AGENDA, 16 April 2011, Page 64).
In his piece, “Handouts a poor agent for help”, Andrew Forrest specifically targeted the Yindjibarndi, incorrectly claiming that they “overwhelmingly voted” to withdraw their objections to, and work with FMG. Forrest also stressed that equitable financial compensation (capital equity) should not be ‘handed out’ to Aboriginal people in agreement making [as it is with other land title holders!]. Michael Woodley’s reply focused on the kind of agreement that would truly respect Yindjibarndi Ngurra and people, and give genuine, long-term opportunities for self-development, rather than the paternalistic, strings-attached offers of ‘help’ from Forrest.
Read and judge for yourself.
HOTLINKS
Links to all the latest articles in the media are made easily accessible on the Yindjibarndi web site. See the HOTLINKS page www.yindjibarndi.org.au/
YINDJIBARNDI TV CHANNEL
Yindjibarndi have responded to FMG’s censorship-by-legal-threat by relaunching its online TV Channel. To see all of our videos please visit:
http://www.isuma.tv/lo/en/yindjibarndi
On the Yindjibarndi Channel you can also tune in to a SPECIAL NEW RELEASE – “Swine River”, a TV play by David Milroy about the ‘stacked deck’ of native title dealing. Swine River was broadcast nationally on the remote indigenous network ICTV last weekend. This weekend ICTV will broadcast the sequel – “Killer Kane”, a play about the destructive ‘divide and conquer’ attack by a mining company on Aboriginal community (to be posted online soon).
DONATIONS THANKYOU
Please see attached a special message of thanks from Yindjibarndi CEO Michael Woodley to all those who have voted with their wallets, and made donations to the Yindjibarndi FIGHTING FUND. This is so important in helping us to get our message out and to assist with legal expenses.
If you can please donate by visiting:www.yindjibarndi.org.au/
Click on the “YINDJIBARNDI FIGHTING FUND” button.
A PALM SUNDAY PRAYER FOR YINDJIBARNDI
Last Sunday (17/4/11) the thoughts of a church congregation were with Yindjibarndi in a Sermon given by Neville Watson of the Wembley Downs Uniting Church. Neville Watson’s Sermon offered a profound moral perspective on the attack by FMG on the Yindjibarndi community. See attached “Palm Sunday Prayer for Yindjibarndi”.
GETUP – ‘Save Us From FMG’ TOPS INDIGENOUS IDEA
Thanks to overwhelming public support, the Yindjibarndi GetUp Campaign Idea – Stop mining company rorts of Native Title – Save us from Twiggy Forrest/FMG – has gone to the top of the ‘Indigenous’ issue list with 1217 votes and has gathered 323 comments! It is now ranked 20thover-all. Please encourage GetUp to ACTION the campaign.
http://suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-campaign-ideas/suggestions/1617547-stop-mining-company-rorts-of-native-title-save-u?ref=title<http://suggest.getup.org.au/forums/60819-campaign-ideas/suggestions/1617547-stop-mining-company-rorts-of-native-title-save-u?ref=title>
YINDJIBARNDI FACEBOOK
The Yindjibarndi Facebook is also gathering pace. It is another solid way to keep information flowing. Please join us at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yindjibarndi-Aboriginal-Corporation/172898829429496?sk=wall
THE WAR BEGINS TOMORROW
Yindjibarndi have been greatly encouraged by the ‘rolling thunder’ of public support, but we know the biggest battles lie ahead. Just today (19 April) FMG’s VTEC staff were out door-knocking in Roebourne peddling their ‘Trojan Horse’ of employment & training – the decoy that hides the massive annihilation of our native title rights that is buried in the belly of their ‘Indigenous Land Use Agreement’. We remain daunted by the struggle that lies ahead. FMG coffers and resources are gigantic – Yindjibarndi survive on the smell of a possible justice.
PLEASE PASS ON THIS MESSAGE
CONTACT:
Michael Woodley
CEO Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation
0419 097 130
mwoodley@juluwarlu.com.au
media@juluwarlu.com.au
For background & research materials please visit:
www.yindjibarndi.org.au/
5 attachments — Download all attachments
Donors Thankyou from Yindjibarndi.pdf
251K View Download
Donors Thankyou from Yindjibarndi.pdf
251K View Download
Michael Woodley Reply to Forrest Opinion Piece 16April2011.pdf
170K View Download
Palm Sunday Prayer for Yindjibarndi.pdf
100K View Download
Original Press Release Woodley response to Forrest.pdf
105K View Download
Further reading:
#TwiggyForrest tweaks stacked meeting to twubble #nativetitle holders in Roebourne #mining #land #resources #indigenous #Aboriginal
#TwiggyForrest : #Yindjibarndi : #AustralianEmploymentCovenant/AEC : #GenerationOne #Aboriginal #indigenous #employment #mining #resources #vimeo
Love the way this story has kicked on.
ReplyDeleteTwiggy has a lot to learn.
Denis