I listened to this last night, then again today. It’s worth your time.
BBC From Our Own Correspondent – March 2013 (MP3 file here)Australia’s mining boom and Aboriginal lands
Duration: 10 minutes | First broadcast: Thursday 07 March 2013 | BBC website
Pascale Harter introduces a special edition of From Our Own Correspondent dedicated to Australia’s mining boom and its implications for Aboriginal lands.
Nick Trevithick travels to Western Australia, and to the mining heartland that is fuelling the country’s economic boom. He asks whether it’s possible to put a monetary value on these ancient Aboriginal lands, as they are increasingly being taken over by mining companies.
The minerals beneath the surface can be bought and sold in global markets – but what about the memories, of the colonial era, the prehistoric past and the mythical dreamtime, which also lie embedded in this earth?
“The question of aboriginal land rights and heritage is a canker in the heart of modern Australia. You can diminish Aboriginal numbers statistically to two percent of the total population but in the rural North West … they’re more like thirty percent. Before the mining boom this burning vastness was their last line of retreat. But now they’ve been thrust into the frontline of global economics and the land is being stolen from beneath their feet, yet again…”
– P
Couple of things.
I know of several people who are closely connected to Mining industry in WA. and the Mining companies are scaling back their progress. even though Iron Ore prices are still buoyant. The companies are cutting costs. So the theory mining companies are stealing land, yet again is not currently true.
Sure land is sacred to some people from just a principal perspective. Fair enough. but there has to be a balance of progress vs status quo.
You can drive for 2 days in Australia not see one person across basically useless desolate land. But can inject Billions of $$ back into areas where there are people and communities sounds like a smart move to me. Sure some of it goes offshore. Price of doing business.
Sure this sort of activity needs to have checks and balances. But this sort of activity allows business and industry to thrive.
You can’t love your I phone on the one hand and not want this sort of activity to continue.
Love the Iphone comment Craig … so true.
Personally im all in favour of going retro – complete change of social strictures and reversal of reliance on technology.
Take it all out – revert to early 19th century expectations and everyone will be happy (i hope).
Im happy to read by lamplight or candlelight – have no appliances or a car – as long as everyone else has to as well.
Then we can all go back to dominating the weak and sickly – and committing acts of violence based on tribal affiliations and lust for power and influence. Some of my ancestors did it quite well. They even ate the results in some cases.
On trams and trains in Melbourne – you can see more drunk abos per square kilometre than any where else in creation. And that leaves out the rest of Australia. I dont know what that says … perhaps others can comment … but either we move in the right directions or the Chinese will do it for us – and we will be slaves to the Sino-racist-exclusivist empire as it were.
To me, the Paepae is a place where people of noble, knowledgeable and high esteem might speak from.
I have seen people who start to speak in a way that is not mana-enhancing, cut to the quick and made to sit down in shame. I have never seen anyone on the Paepae elevate themselves by treading on the dignity of others – particularly our indigenous cousins.
I am privileged to be Manuhiri (visitors) here in Perth working for Aboriginal (Tangata Whenua) clan groups in the Pilbara, Kimberleys and South West regions as they negotiate their way through the mine field (mind pun) which is “Native Title”
Regarding the “Abo” comment, I am embarrassed for you, particularly if you consider yourself a New Zealander. You would have lasted several seconds on the Paepae before being told to sit down in shame.
Regarding the broadcast by Nick Trevithick, his experience has been exactly my experience. Thank you for the opportunity to listen to it.
Thanks for your comments Georgia, and for sharing your experience and viewpoint.
You’re right — there’s a different level of accountability and attention where our interactions are based or launched from a physical paepae — with people eyeballing each other and able to respond in real time.
That is often completely absent from online discussion … which sometimes leads to exaggeration and braggadocio and, as you say, treading on the dignity of others for ‘dramatic effect’ or just recklessness.
Sometimes, however, one just wants to give a debating opponent — whether in person or in cyberspace — a jolly good serve.
Some statements deserve criticism.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by. Feel free to comment here.
– P
The comment about ‘abo’ is the truth .. an established fact – or does your OZ-like use of tinted glasses not allow truth or fact? Just romantic nonsense.
if i choose to shorten the word aboriginal (which is not an established use that is acceptable by native aussies … who never called themselves aboriginals anyway … thats a colonial appellation ).. then i am entitled so to do.
Shame on the paepae … what a crock of shite.
If you are a shortsighted aficionado of the noble savage mythical viewpoint can do no wrong viewpoint i refer to googling the movie “Feathers of Peace” about the maori genocide inflicted on the Moriori people.
Arseholes and humans and corruption of life, are the same no matter what the skin colour or cultural/political paradigm.
You may well glory in your involvement in native affairs … but it isnt ever an excuse to blindly ignore the realities happening around you.
Personally i support native aussies rights … love the song “beds are burning” by midnight oil … and have argued with aussie colleagues about the issue. Also immensely proud of the “abo” league stars … even have an “abo” indigenous League team jersey!
Dont be so damned precious .. it devalues what native people hope for.
Just – you cant be dumb enough to ignore simple evident visible truths.
when i say ‘shame on the paepae’ – i dont mean this site … i mean the supposed ‘dignitas and veritas’ of the institution … if it behaves as Georgia believes it does … it then has no meaning and no commitment to anything but hidebound tradition and ostrich like behaviour
Thanks for listening, boys. – P
You do sarcasm and irony so well … elegant as a stilletto inserted intoa victims lace-covered breast. If you had a previous life .. it was probably in the court of Louis the Sun King as an intriguer and agent provocateur ..
Personally – i’m pro aboriginal rights in Aussie … just as you so often have indoctrinated your adoring public … one has to see all sides of the story.
Any missed issues in the responses above – are probably the result of your own habit of buttering the bread on both sides …
Like Ivan your sarcasm was missed on me, however I did listen.
I was not sarcastically thanking you. You’ve misread me. I’m glad you took the time to listen to what I found a worthwhile, interesting and, actually, moving report by Nick Trevithick.
A large part of what I set out to do with ThePaepae.com is what I said here:
– P
I wouldnt apologise … that is the sort of thing you imply so often … not my fault …
Not misread … more mis-spoken … as it were ..
Apologies. 🙂