Australia's Woodside likely to face delays on Browse -analysts | Energy & Oil | Reuters

Australia's Woodside likely to face delays on Browse -analysts | Energy & Oil | Reuters

Secret men's business could threaten gas hub - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Secret men's business could threaten gas hub - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): An Indigenous man in Western Australia says an area marked for a massive gas project is a sacred site for secret men's business. Traditional owners in the Kimberley have reached agreement with Woodside and the state and federal governments for a gas hub to be established at James Price Point, but Joseph Roe says the site was known for ceremonies associated with initiations and secret men's business.

Secret men's business threatens $30 billion gas bonanza

Secret men's business threatens $30 billion gas bonanza: Documents seen by the Herald show a song cycle, a path sacred to the Goolarabooloo and other people of the Dampier Peninsula, which runs through the James Price Point site, 60 kilometres north of Broome. Woodside plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal there to process gas from its Browse field. Late last month Chalk and Fitzgerald, lawyers for a traditional custodian, Joseph Roe, wrote to Woodside and its joint venture partners in the Browse development - Chevron, Shell, BHP and BP - requesting that site clearing works be suspended as they may be in breach of the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Andrew Chalk of Chalk and Fitzgerald expects shortly to commence legal proceedings to require the WA Registrar of Aboriginal Sites to include the song cycle on the sites register, as was determined in 1991.

Broome: Dubai Down Under - Australasia - World - The Independent

Broome: Dubai Down Under - Australasia - World - The Independent: Ms Curran adds: "It takes many years to create a harmonious town with a strong social fabric, but it doesn't take long to unravel it. This gas development will destroy our unique tourism brand and have a major impact on our town. Colin Barnett thinks he can force it on Broome; he thinks he'll get away with it because we're so remote." Ominously, Mr Barnett has predicted the Kimberley will underpin Western Australia's development over the next 50 years, just as the Pilbara has underpinned it since the 1960s. Rich reserves of copper, lead, nickel, zinc, bauxite and coal are thought to lie beneath the Kimberley's red dirt. Only five mines operate at present, but 700 applications for exploration licences were submitted last year.

Sky News: Thousands target Chevron in WA protest

Sky News: Thousands target Chevron in WA protest

Thousands of workers have marched through central Perth threatening to picket US oil and gas giant Chevron until it pledges to provide more local jobs and training.

Police blocked main roads as the combined union protest - which organisers estimated at being between 4000 to 5000 people - marched on Chevron's Australian headquarters in St George's Terrace.

Security was tight, with the company locking the doors to its QV1 Building entrance as protesters rallied outside, banging drums and shouting slogans.

The unions are demanding that Australian and multi-national resources giants, including Chevron, end their practice of importing cheap labour under temporary working visas, and provide more training to local workers.

Swiss-based contractor Allseas is being investigated by the Immigration Department over accusations it rorted business visas to hire cheap labour for Chevron's $43 billion Gorgon gas project off WA's northern coast.
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/unions-attack-chevron-over-foreign-jobs-20111129-1o4yt.html

MAJOR COPORATIONS TRY TO DISCREDIT AND DEMONISE STRONG INDIGENOUS LEADERS WHO ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT COUNTRY AND THEIR CULTURAL SPIRITUAL HERITAGE

Dear Re Hand

Thank you for your email.

Fortescue has been vigorous in building indigenous independence among often severely underprivileged communities, from the least privileged upwards. We have steadfastly not yielded, as is often the case in the mining industry, to demands for huge cash payment which lead to dependence.

In this light, good faith negotiations have been ongoing for the past four years at the very best efforts of the team here at Fortescue. Mr Woodley, as has sadly become apparent, no longer has the support of his community as his 'cash only' demands have become more extreme. Yet we will willingly meet with him at any time he requests.

He must however bring with him the Yindjibarndi Elders who speak for their country as he is not the sole representative of the Yindjibarndi people.

Fortescue’s response to the allegations made recently by Mr Woodley is attached. Can I also suggest you take some time to read about the Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation: http://wmyac.com/

Kind regards,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Gosch
Communications
Fortescue Metals Group Ltd

Level 2, 87 Adelaide Terrace East Perth WA 6004

Mobile - 0414 319 775

Direct - 08 6218 8412

Main - 08 6218 8888

Email - egosch@fmgl.com.au

IS IT A CYCLONE OR JUST A GAIL? At James Price Point

The WA government has strongly denied traditional owners' claims they are being forced off a camp ground near a proposed gas precinct.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/194487/WA-government-denies-protestors-asked-to-leave-camp

THAT IS NOT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT SAID TO THE ABC ON TUESDAY
Protesters at possible danger from cyclones - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Department of State Development is overseeing the gas hub project and it's deputy director general, Gail McGowan, has confirmed the camps are illegal.

"Certainly, establishing permanent facilities is clearly prohibited under the legislation," she said. For the first time the Government is considering forcing the campers out. Ms McGowan says the next steps are being considered.

"The relevant government agencies are working together on the issue, certainly with a mind to the cyclone season approaching, and also considering the impact on other resources, and looking at whether any addition action is needed," she said.


Redhand received information earlier this week that several government agencies met in Perth a couple of weeks ago and the main item on their agenda was how they were going to deal with the protestors embedded in Country, at James Price Point.

Well, if these government public servants are actually paid to think and come up with solid strategies as to how to address the very annoying issue of these protectors than Redhand would like to suggest that if their premise is cyclones and concern for people’s well - being than maybe having a cyclone in the vicinity at the time would be far more convincing that their intentions were virtuous.


People can see exactly what the game is, give us a break.!

But the question remains begging, why are they considering building the world’s second largest gas refineries in a cyclonic location? Does anyone remember that last year in November 2010, Woodside Petroleum had to rebuild several flare towers used to burn off waste gas because they did not meet design requirements to withstand expected wind speeds.

The costs for its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) project blew out by $900 million and took another six months to begin production while it rebuilt equipment that fell short of design specifications.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/business/woodside-delays-start-of-pluto-as-costs-soar-20101130-18efm.html#ixzz1fN2XrIEc

Indigenous group threatens Wheatstone boycott - The West Australian

Indigenous group threatens Wheatstone boycott - The West Australian: Despite agreement on appropriate compensation, it is understood the latest row between Chevron and the Thalanyji revolves around a request for the oil and gas giant to fund and build a Keeping Place for cultural materials, as well as a clash over the invitation list for today's first-sod turning ceremony.

Some elders were invited but others apparently not, leading to a decision by the Thalanyji leadership to not attend at all unless grievances with Chevron could be resolved by this morning.
A Chevron spokesman said it was "disappointed and regrets" that Thalanyji elders were planning not to attend.

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

The WA Supreme Court heard on Monday that veteran native title lawyer, Ron William Bower, of Perth legal firm Corser & Corser, and one of his clients, “pressured” an elderly Yindjibarndi woman into signing an Interlocutory Injunction Application seeking to stop the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) AGM going ahead this week.

Tell FMG board-time to stop greed, brutality and disrespect and start acting like an ethical company SHAME #FMG http://bit.ly/ttmWQU

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

It's just going to benifit the State Government, not my people of James Price Point

Click this link to hear Phillip Roe speaking on SBS radio about DSD's threats to shut down the camps....great work Phil!

http://media.sbs.com.au/audio/world-news_111130_194487.mp3

Environmentalists buy shares in mining company to protect a Kimberley icon

Environmentalists buy shares in mining company to protect a Kimberley icon:
Mr Costin says he told the board's chairman and director that the current site is inappropriate for a copper mine.

"The prospect of tourism operations at the Horizontal Waterfalls co-existing with a copper mine is totally untenable," he said.

"It's not just the visual impact of the mine, but more so the discharges in relation to waste water."

Mr Costin says signing up as shareholder has given protesters a clearer understanding of what they're up against.

Traditional Owners tell State to ‘back-off’ from threat to forcibly remove them from their lands at James Price Point the Kimberley

BROOME COMMUNITY NO GAS CAMPAIGN

Media Release
November 29th, 2011
Traditional Owners have hit back at WA’s Department of State Development and have said they are being disrespectful and paternalistic in their attempt to remove people from a traditional Aboriginal campground near James Price Point, Broome.

Traditional Owner and Goolarabooloo Law Boss Phillip Roe said: “The State needs to back off. This is like stepping back into the 19th century when people were forcibly removed from their land. We have a right under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, which Australia has signed, to carry out our cultural practices and protect our country.”

Today Gail McGowan from the DSD and Broome Police Superintendent Mick Sutherland threatened to shut down the Walmadan campground as it may be dangerous during cyclone season, and that it is ‘illegal for people to live there”
ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Walmadan campers have developed a cyclone plan with advice from FESA, including 3 evacuation options, and have downsized the camp significantly.

Walmadan is one of many ancient Aboriginal campsites along the Dampier Peninsula, and is an important site along the Lurujarri Heritage Trail, a reconciliation walk the Goolarabooloo community developed in conjunction with the WA Heritage Council in 1988. It is also the site of the Walmadan Tent Embassy. Phillip Roe, along with other family members, has invited people, many of whom support the Goolarabooloo/JabbirJabbir in their fight against the proposed Browse LNG precinct, to stay at the camp. “Over the past 25 years we have invited people to come and stay with us in our country and learn about our cultural heritage and practices” Phillip said.


Mr. Roe feels the DSD has displayed a lack of cultural respect by threatening to close the camps without properly discussing their issues with him and his community. ‘Our community, the Goolarabooloo, has survived cyclones for tens of thousands of years, and we are very confident we still can. Why are they making an uproar about this camp suddenly? It’s obviously a political move to shut down our community’s opposition to the Browse LNG Precinct”

(Photo: Rod Harvigsen) Traditional Owner Phillip Roe with Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke at Walmadan in August 2011

Woodside in the Kimberley; Exploitation Inc — Antony Loewenstein

Woodside in the Kimberley; Exploitation Inc — Antony LoewensteinWhat I saw on the cur­rent Wood­side com­pound near JPP chal­lenged this as­ser­tion, with count­less bits of bro­ken con­crete in the dirt, air-con­di­tion­ers at­tached with flimsy pieces of rope and leak­ing water. Ev­i­dence for this dam­age is con­stant and in­cludes en­vi­ron­men­tal ex­perts dis­put­ing Wood­side claims.

As we walked around the site, a man ap­peared car­ry­ing a video cam­era—he re­fused to say what he was doing or for whom he worked—and began film­ing us. He dis­ap­peared 30 sec­onds later.

Later, an­other man ap­peared, wear­ing a bright-yel­low flu­o­res­cent Thrifty car rental vest and dark sun­glasses, and a small cam­era at­tached to his chest was flicked on to film us. He re­fused to say what he was re­ally doing (apart from claim­ing he was pro­tect­ing our “safety” near the Wood­side com­pound) or where the footage would be screened or used.

My guides in the area, Damien and David, two men who have spent months at the block­ade at JPP and es­tab­lished a sus­tain­able camp with phone and in­ter­net cov­er­age, said that these kinds of acts—the guards are em­ployed by Hos­tile En­vi­ron­ment Ser­vices (HRS)—oc­curred daily.

Walmadan Country under on-going attacks

Woodsides 'programme' of destruction and attack on country in the Walmadan, James Price Point area (North of Broome WA) is ongoing. The sequence you're about to view shows images taken in areas of recent clearing; within metres of rare monsoon vine thicket. This sequence of images was taken on the 27th of November 2011.

Woodside punished by investors as production forecasts fall short | The Australian

Woodside punished by investors as production forecasts fall short | The Australian

WOODSIDE Petroleum has been severely punished by investors after disappointing the market on its ramp-up plans for Pluto and lower than expected production guidance.

The oil and gas giant yesterday said that production next year might range from 73 million barrels of oil equivalent to 81 million barrels, which analysts said was about 8-10 per cent lower than expected.

Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! - Indymedia Ireland

Shell's Peat Haulage Has Begun... And Been Disrupted ! - Indymedia Ireland

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy | Naomi Wolf | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

The shocking truth about the crackdown on Occupy | Naomi Wolf | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Parallels to what we have been experiencing for several months in Broome because of our efforts to protect Country, Community and Cultural Heritage. Many respected long term Broome locals have been arrested, pulled over, searched, bullied, pulled in to be questioned on highly dubious circumstances. Many people have be arrested, convicted or fined on video evidence provided to the police on a daily basis by Woodside’s private corporate mercenaries Hostile/Lockforce Services.



Woodside with the state government’s unlimited support has turned our community into a bunch of criminals with trumped up charges and highly questionable underlining motives and has reaped thousands and thousands of dollars for the state coffers in fines and infringement notices, court costs and trials.

People have been picked up in Country, told they are under arrest, taken back into town in paddy wagons, held for several hours only to be told they are un-arrested and left on the streets to find their own way back to Country. In any other situation this could be deemed as kidnapping.

Particular protectors have been targeted for police attention and Woodside has targeted specific people by demonizing them in their highly prejudice Induction Workshops that are conducted on a regular basis for all workers, contractors and even government agency representatives entering the proposed site .

Woodside has turned our beautiful community of committed people into a bunch of criminals virtually overnight and have filled it with marauding private corporate mercenaries.

No timeline on Yindjibarndi request: Parliament | Tracker

No timeline on Yindjibarndi request: Parliament | Tracker:

In the letter to WA’s Registrar of Aboriginal Sites, Eureka’s principal archaeologist says “misleading information” from FMG may have influenced decisions without the full cultural significance of the area being known.

The letter claims FMG threatened to withhold payment of outstanding Eureka invoices amounting to $70,000 if a report was not edited.

Please note June blog stated:
In a formal complaint lodged to DIA on 9 June 2011, the principal Aboriginal custodian of James Price Point and Elder for the Goolarabooloo Jabbir-Jabbir people- Mr Joseph Roe-provided detailed photographic and video evidence of significant damage by archaeologists and seismic testers working for Woodside. They have been recklessly damaging burial sites, middens and ancient remnant rain forests and have stolen items of Cultural significance. Over the past week, three DIA Officers guided by traditional custodians spent more than nine hours meticulously taking evidence of significant damage done by Woodside contractors undertaking preliminary work for the doomed gas plant.

“The damage started in early May 2011 and continues to this day”, says Mr Roe. “My most important cultural responsibility as handed down to me from my Lulu (late grandfather) is to look after these sacred sites. They’ve never had vehicles driven over them. The actions of these contractors are a painful reality, disrespectful to our culture and our ancestors.”

To date nothing has become of the complaints.

All this damage breaches the WA Aboriginal Heritage Act (AHA) because it
occurred without consent of a Section 18 by the WA Minister for Indigenous Affairs and with the misuse of a Section 16 by Eureka. The Registrar, the Department of Indigenous Affairs (DIA) and the Aboriginal Cultural Materials Committee (ACMC) were informed and have know about the Songline and all the sites contained within, well before the damage.

DIA investigations were put on hold and no feedback about these damages has been received. No action to halt the damage has undertaken, or any attempt to mitigate this damage has been taken by the State or relevant gov departments. Eureka was asked to return all the stolen cultural items to Country by Joseph Roe both in writing and face to face consultations, but nothing has been returned or any correspondence answered. Meanwhile, Woodside can not claim ignorance about the existence of these sites as a defence, because they too, were informed face to face by Mr Roe.

Boyer Lecture One: Our Only Home - Big Idea - 20 November 2011

Boyer Lecture One: Our Only Home - Big Idea - 20 November 2011

Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Geraldine Brooks begins the 2011 Boyer Lecture series with a wry assessment of 'our only home'—the planet and the environmental challenges it presents.

She believes Australia can lead the way on this issue. Not only because this continent accounts for a large portion of the world's natural resources but also because the wilderness experience changes us profoundly as human beings.

A transcript of the first 2011 Boyer Lecture Our Only Home will be available here.