[Onthebarricades] Fw: [BlackGreen)] lake cowal arrests compile
Andy
ldxar1 at tesco.net
Thu Apr 12 17:15:28 PDT 2007
----- Original Message -----
From: dr.woooo
To: blackgreensolidarity at lists.perthimc.asn.au
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 1:16 PM
Subject: [BlackGreen)] lake cowal arrests compile
a compile of media releases and corporate media reports from the weekends actions
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakem.html
MEDIA ALERT
Sunday 8 April 2007
12.00 pm EST
**Occupation of World's Largest Gold Mining Company**
Today over 80 people are occupying, disrupting work and shutting down mine
operations at the massive gold mine at Lake Cowal near Condobolin in
central NSW. People have locked on to machinery inside the mine site.
Wiradjuri Traditional Owners, locals, environmentalists and supporters
from as far as Sweden, France and Canada are converging to protest the
illegal operation of the worlds largest gold mining company Barrick Gold.
Wiradjuri Traditional Owner, Neville 'Chappy' Williams says. "We are the
first nation of people in this land. Wiradjuri has never ceded our
sovereignty over our lands and waters. We have the right to life. We have
right to existence. We have the right to being Wiradjuri people in our own
lands."
Australian Student Environment Network's national convenor, Nicola Ison
says, "In the lead up t Barrick Gold's AGM on 2nd May, Wiradjuri and their
supporters are presenting an eviction notice to the gold mining giant."
"Barrick gold is stripping NSW of its precious water resources,
internationally significant wetlands and destroying Wiradjuri history and
culture."
"Barrick is transporting over 6000 tonnes of cyanide annually from
Gladstone, Queensland to Lake Cowal, New South Wales, creating risk of
spill and lethal contamination of waterways along the 1600 km transport
route" says Ison.
Friends of the Earth campaigner, Holly Creenaune says, "While Australian
communities are in the grip of devastating drought Barrick draws up to 17
million litres of fresh water each day at Lake Cowal. In the last 2 years,
the water table has dropped 35 m due to Barrick's mine."
"We will continue to disrupt mining at Lake Cowal until there is land
justice and water equity for Wiradjuri and central NSW communities."
Contact:
Nicola Ison (ASEN)
0423 717 567
Holly Creenaune (FoE)
0417 682 541
For a Media Briefing on the Lake Cowal Campaign please contact:
Natalie Lowrey :: 0421 356 067 :: natalie.lowrey at foe.org.au
http://www.savelakecowal.org
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakep.html
http://peacebus.com.cyber-pod.com/CyanideWatch/
MEDIA ALERT
Sunday 8th April
2.20pm
**Occupation and Lock-on's: Work Stopped at Lake Cowal Gold Mine**
Wiradjuri Traditional Owners, locals, environmentalist and Lake Cowal
campaign supporters are currently occupying the world's largest gold
mining company.
Two activists with support people have locked onto machinery inside
Barrick Gold's mine site at Lake Cowal, in central western NSW. The mine
has appeared to stop work.
Fifteen people are currently occupying the office. Six more people have
entered the mine site, whilst several others are already inside.
The mine has appeared to stop work due to the peaceful actions of
supporters who have gathered over the easter weekend for corroborre with
Wiradjuri Traditional Owners.
Police are currently inside the mine site.
Contact:
Nicola Ison
0423 717 567
Holly Creenaune
0417 682 541
http://www.savelakecowal.org
http://www.rainforestinfo.org.au/gold/lakep.html
http://peacebus.com.cyber-pod.com/CyanideWatch/
For a Media Briefing on the Lake Cowal Campaign please contact:
Natalie Lowrey :: 0421 356 067 :: natalie.lowrey at foe.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
9 April 2007
14 Protestors Arrested at Wiradjuri Lake Cowal Demonstration
Fourteen protestors have been arrested at a demonstration in support of Wiradjuri Traditional Owners who want the Lake Cowal Gold Mine stopped.
Around 100 Aboriginal and environmental supporters demonstrated at the Lake Cowal Gold mine, 47 kms from West Wyalong over Easter to protest against the desecration of traditional Wiradjuri lands and environmental damage caused by gold mining.
Some of the demonstrators locked themselves onto pieces of machinery, shutting down mine operations, while others occupied the mine's offices.
West Wyalong police charged the protestors with entering 'inclosed land' under the obscure Inclosed Land Act 1901. The protestors were released on bail on the condition that they did not come within 10 kilometres of the mine.
Wiradjuri Traditional Owners have been holding convergences at Lake Cowal for a number of years as part of their campaign to raise awareness about the destruction of their ancient cultural heritage and their demands for the mine to be closed.
During yesterday's protest, a Barrick Gold mine manager refused to accept an eviction notice from Traditional Owner, Neville "Chappy" Williams. Mine
Manager, Bill Shallvey, rudely refused to take the notice, the fourth issued to Barrick since 2002, shouting that Williams and his supporters were "misleading people".
"Our Aboriginal People are being denied access to our sacred ground. Protestors from around the world are here to support our claim for access to our ancient lands. Australian Aboriginal Peoples have the oldest continuing living culture in the world. We Wiradjuri People are also being denied the right of spiritual and religious freedom under s.116 of the Australian Constitution," Mr Williams said.
"Barrick is desecrating our sacred site and Dreaming Place and denying us access to our traditional lands. The company has moved or destroyed more than 10 000 artefacts including marked trees, damaging the integrity of the area forever.
"The company did a deal with five unauthorised Wiradjuri, who signed away the ancient inheritance of over 30 000 people of the Wiradjuri Nation. After signing the secret agreement with Barrick they discontinued their Native Title Claim over the area. Our Mooka and Kalara united families' claim is still active in the Federal Court and is proceeding towards determination. Our claim group is more than several thousand people who have bloodline back to Country over thousands and thousands of years.
"Despite Barrick's assertion that we are misleading people, what we are doing is our ancient cultural duty to protect our sacred Country for the generations to come. We are also raising awareness of the dangers of cyanide leach gold mining and the mine's excessive use of precious water in the middle of the worst drought on record. The fullest dams, in the very parched countryside between Condobolin and the mine, are the toxic tailings ponds west of the open cut pit, which extends into the lakebed.
"I am proud of the courageous and brave protestors who entered the mine, occupied its office and locked onto the conveyor belt, shutting down operations. They had my authority to enter our traditional lands."
The Easter Sunday protest was the climax of the weekend of actions that included a Saturday morning demonstration in Condobolin outside the offices of the Wiradjuri Condobolin Corporation funded by Barrick under the secret agreement.
Attended by environmentalists from Bolivia, Canada, the United States, England, France, Germany, Iraq, Papua New Guinea and Switzerland as well as most Australian states, the campaign to protect Lake Cowal continues to gain international recognition as momentum grows in the fight to stop the desecration of Indigenous lands and the environmental destruction resulting from gold mining on all continents.
Activists are working towards international solidarity against Barrick on 2 May 2007, the day of its Annual General Meeting.
Contacts:
Neville Williams 0416 316 774
Ellie Gilbert 0427 795 639
NOTICE TO BARRICK GOLD TO CEASE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF LAKE COWAL
I, Neville Williams, on behalf of the Traditional Owners of Lake Cowal have already issued Barrick Gold with three Notices to Quit our sacred ground. Under Wiradjuri Custom, Tradition and Law/Lore, you have received your three warnings. You must now respect the unceded sovereignty of the Wiradjuri Nation and cease all operations, restore the landscape; remove all equipment and replace all artefacts to their GPS'd positions. This is to be done under supervision of the Traditional Owners of Lake Cowal. We reserve our right to take further action as necessary.
Signed this day 8 April 2007.
Neville "Chappy" Williams for and on behalf of the Mooka/Kalara united families within the Wiradjuri Nation.
Contacts:
Neville Williams 0416 316 774
Ellie Gilbert 0427 795 639
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 9 April 2007
POLICE FOILED IN ATTEMPT TO RE-ARREST LAKE COWAL PROTESTOR
Activists at the Lake Cowal camp this morning surrounded a police vehicle to prevent officers from re-arresting a student protestor.
Following 14 arrests at the Lake Cowal Gold Mine, 47 kms from West Wyalong, Central Western New South Wales, police arrived unannounced this morning and attempted to re-arrest a student protestor known as "Trent".
Yesterday 14 protestors were arrested after actions at the mine in which some locked on to the conveyor belt while others entered the mine's offices in support of Traditional Wiradjuri demands to stop desecrating their ancient, sacred lake and to leave the mine.
The protestors were charged with entering 'inclosed lands' under the obscure Inclosed Lands Act 1901 and later released on the condition that they did not come within 10 kilometres of the mine.
The Lake Cowal Easter convergence camp is located 2 km from the mine on the Marsden Road between Condobolin and West Wyalong.
After police had put "Trent" into their bullwagon, protestors surrounded it, demanding his release. One of the policemen threatened to spray the campers with capsicum if they did not move.
Finally the police said they would let ãTrentä go and arrest him later. Protestors are concerned that people returning home from the camp could be arrested as they leave the 10 km bail-imposed zone around the mine.
Contacts:
Neville Williams, Wiradjuri Traditional Owner
0416 316 774
Ellie Gilbert
0421 795 639
next from the australian
Nineteen charged after mine protest
09 April 2007
POLICE have charged 19 people following a protest at a central-western NSW mining site, including a man who attempted to disrupt the activists' campsite.
Eighteen people entered the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal at about 1.30pm (AEST) yesterday, invading the site office and chaining themselves to machinery.
Protesters said the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying the land of the traditional owners, the Wiradjuri people.
Police said the 18 were arrested and charged with entering enclosed lands.
They have been granted conditional bail and will appear in West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.
In a separate incident, a 32-year-old man from Western Australia allegedly drove into the protesters' campsite and damaged their cars and tents.
He was arrested and charged with malicious damage, failing to undergo a breath analysis, stalking/intimidation, carrying a knife in a public place and driving offences.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Griffith Local Court today.
http://abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/orange/200704/s1892461.htm
Monday, 9 April 2007. 07:50 (AEDT)
Police charge Lake Cowal protesters
Police have arrested and charged 18 protesters who broke into the gold mine at Lake Cowal in central western New South Wales yesterday.
A protest camp was set up near one of the gates to the Barrick Gold mine during the weekend. The protesters say the mine contaminates local waterways and damages nearby wetlands.
One of the protesters, Mia Pepper, says the mine is causing environmental damage and native title issues have not been dealt with properly.
"We decided that if they're not going to listen to us then we need to make them listen to us," she said.
"So by doing this we are forcing them to acknowledge us and forcing them to acknowledge why we've come here."
The mine's community relations manager, Bill Shalvey, says an appropriate native title agreement is in place.
The arrested protesters have been charged with entering enclosed land and are due to face West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.
PEACE & GOD BLESS
Kirky a Koori in Parkes. Oz.
Wife, mum, nan, sista, aunt, cuz & friend 2 all.
http://kirkys-world.tripod.com
1 stick can B broken ~ a handfull 2gether can't B broken ~ In Solidarity iz Strength.
Nineteen charged after mine protest
April 09, 2007 12:00
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21525522-5001028,00.html
POLICE have charged 19 people following a protest at a central-western NSW mining site, including a man who attempted to disrupt the activists' campsite.
Eighteen people entered the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal at about 1.30pm (AEST) yesterday, invading the site office and chaining themselves to machinery.
Protesters said the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying the land of the traditional owners, the Wiradjuri people.
Police said the 18 were arrested and charged with entering enclosed lands.
They have been granted conditional bail and will appear in West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.
In a separate incident, a 32-year-old man from Western Australia allegedly drove into the protesters' campsite and damaged their cars and tents.
He was arrested and charged with malicious damage, failing to undergo a breath analysis, stalking/intimidation, carrying a knife in a public place and driving offences.
The man was refused bail and will appear in Griffith Local Court today.
PEACE & GOD BLESS
Kirky a Koori in Parkes. Oz.
Wife, mum, nan, sista, aunt, cuz & friend 2 all.
http://kirkys-world.tripod.com
1 stick can B broken ~ a handfull 2gether can't B broken ~ In Solidarity iz Strength.
Arrests made after mine protest turns ugly
Jano Gibson
April 9, 2007 - 8:15AM
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Eighteen anti-gold mine activists have been charged following a protest in central NSW, which concluded with a man allegedly ransacking the protesters' campsite while armed with a knife.
The activists, who included members of the Wiradjuri people, Friends of the Earth and the Australian Student Environment Network [ASEN], were arrested about 1.30pm yesterday after allegedly breaching the perimeter of the Lake Cowal gold mine, which is run by the world's largest gold producer, Barrick.
They claim the mine's operations are environmentally damaging.
"Barrick ... is stripping NSW of its precious water resources, internationally significant wetlands and destroying Wiradjuri history and culture," ASEN's national convenor, Nicola Ison, said in a statement released by Friends of the Earth yesterday.
"Barrick is transporting over 6000 tonnes of cyanide annually from Gladstone, Queensland, to Lake Cowal, New South Wales, creating risk of spill and lethal contamination of waterways along the 1600 km transport route," Ms Ison said.
The activists were each charged with entering enclosed lands. They were granted conditional bail and are due to appear in West Wyalong Local Court on April 26.
Police said a 32-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening after allegedly driving into the protesters' campsite and damaging vehicles and tents.
He was charged with malicious damage, failing to undergo a breath analysis, stalking/intimidation, carry a knife in a public place, as well as driving offences.
He is expected to appear in Griffith Local Court this morning.
Sunday April 8, 05:00 PM
Protest forces closure of NSW mine
Protesters have temporarily shut down a major gold mine in central New South Wales.
Around 80 environmental and Indigenous campaigners are demonstrating at the Barrick's mine at Lake Cowal, near Condobolin.
Some of the demonstrators have locked themselves to pieces of mining machinery, while others have been arrested after occupying the mine's offices.
Friends of the Earth campaigner Holly Creenaune says the protests have been held on Easter Sunday for the past six years.
"Wiradjuri tradition owners hold a corroboree each Easter and have for the last several years, inviting local community on to Wiradjuri country," he said.
"This weekend we've seen over 80 people from France, from Sweden, from Melbourne, from Adelaide, from Sydney and all across Australia, converging to support this Wiradjuri-led campaign to stop gold mining at Lake Cowal."
Save to MyWeb HYPERLINK "http://mtf.news.yahoo.com/mailto?url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/070408/21/1317y.html&title=Protest%20forces%20closure%20of%20NSW%20mine&prop=dailynews&locale=au" Email story HYPERLINK "http://au.rd.yahoo.com/headlines/print/*http:/au.news.yahoo.com/070408/21/p/1317y.html"Printable view
Easter activists stop operations at NSW mine site
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April 8, 2007 - 10:57PM
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Environmental activists have chained themselves to machinery and invaded the office of a central-western NSW mining site, halting its operations.
About 60 protesters have gathered at the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal near Condobolin, claiming the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying the land of the Wiradjuri people, the traditional owners of the land.
A spokeswoman for Friends of the Earth Australia said two activists had now chained themselves to machinery inside the site.
Fifteen others are currently inside the site office looking for artifacts they claim Barrick has taken from the site, and which belong to the Wiradjuri people.
She said the activists' actions have stopped operations at the site and power has also been cut to the office.
This is the seventh year protesters have gathered at the site over the E
Environmentalists protest at mine site
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April 8, 2007 - 3:09PM
AdvertisementAdvertisement
Environmental activists have chained themselves to machinery and invaded the office of a central-western NSW mining site, halting its operations.
About 60 protesters have gathered at the Barrick Gold site at Lake Cowal near Condobolin, claiming the company is stripping the area of precious water supplies and destroying the land of the Wiradjuri people, the traditional owners of the land.
A spokeswoman for Friends of the Earth Australia said two activists had now chained themselves to machinery inside the site.
Fifteen others are currently inside the site office looking for artifacts they claim Barrick has taken from the site, and which belong to the Wiradjuri people.
She said the activists' actions have stopped operations at the site and power has also been cut to the office.
This is the seventh year protesters have gathered at the site over the Easter weekend.
© 2007 AAP
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