Amnesty International warns that two human rights defenders, Georges Kapiamba and Prince Kumwamba, both from from Katanga, a southern province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have received several threats related to their human rights work since the evening of April 3.

Along with other activists, Georges Kapiamba and Prince Kumwamba have been planning to visit the town of Kilwa in Katanga province, the scene of a massacre by government troops in October 2004. Amnesty explains that “the visit [is] on behalf of an Australian legal firm pursuing possible …

In the last month, two of the four States that opposed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People issued “apology resolutions” for the historical crimes they committed against indigenous people. First it was Australia on February 13th; and then America threw up an apology of it’s own a couple weeks later, on March 1st.

It’s particularly interesting considering how both States continue to utilize the very same policies they claim to be so sorry about. Or perhaps, that’s not why they’re apologizing?

The Australian Apology
Focusing primarily on the …

Racism is on the rise in the colonial centres of the world, and so it’s becoming increasingly important for us to develop healthy inter-cultural relationships that are founded on respect and mutual understanding. If we do not begin to develop such relationships, than the malignant ways of racism will be allowed to develop and fester without any substantial challenge (that is, challenge beyond words and argument).

First and foremost, we need space to develop such relationships; but we also need to be able to understand one another; that is, to develop a first-hand awareness of what other people mean according to …

A regional trial court in Nueva Vizcaya served OceanaGold with an injunction last week, halting the company’s demolition activities on Didipio lands. It will only be in effect for 20 days, but it’s nonetheless a great victory for the community. They been trying to stop OceanaGold from destroying their land since 1994.

Members of the Didipio Earthsavers Multi-Purpose Association (Desama) filed for the injunction (Temporary Restraining Order, TRO) on February 27, saying the company was not providing “just compensation” or even relocation sites for the displaced people.

In a statement, Desama said …

Indigenous Communities in the Philippines have been recently forced to step up their efforts to defend their lands against foreign mining interests. There were two separate blockades last month, both in Nueva Vizcaya, Northern Luzon.

The first blockade was set up on Thursday, December 10th, shortly after the Ifugao, Ibaloi and Kalanguya got word the Australia firm OceanaGold would soon arrive to start exploration operations on their land. Sure enough, the workers arrived the following day. Fortunately that’s all they did—at least until the 100-strong group escorted the workers …

“All that Glitters is not Gold” is an informative and disturbing 6-minute video that looks at the Olympic Dam in Australia, the site of the world’s largest known uranium deposit.

Currently, BHP Billiton wants the federal and state government to approve a plan to bring 40 million tonnes of the radioactive ore to the surface every year for the next 50-100 years.

As relayed in the film, and in a press release for a related film, more than 80% of the radiation that will be brought up from deep within the earth will remain at the surface of the …

Do you believe in Magic? I don’t. But I do believe in People–and I’m proud to say that Australia’s Voters did a fine job in the election, by voting against Aboriginal Affairs Minister Mal Brough and long-time Prime Minister John Howard. That’s right, They’re done!

These two gentlemen were of course the principle driving force of the Miraculous Australian Intervention, which continues to be pursued against Indigenous People in the Northern Territory. It’s doubtful the new government will stop the intervention, but they are likely going to lighten it significantly. Hopefully that means restoring the land title system, getting …

close up shot of 97 protesters holding up the recommendations from the ‘Little Children are Sacred’ report - recommendations which have been ignored in the Federal government’s heavy handed response. more photos here

On November 17, there is an international Day of Action for the Indigenous People in the Northern Territory of Australia, who have since June been the subjects of a thoroughly-planned-out draconian scheme that has undermined indigenous rights, done away with the …

Today, a National Political Body has been born for Indigenous People in Australia. It’s called the National Aboriginal Alliance (NAA), and it is the end result of a three-day gathering that took place in Alice Springs this week, which brought together about 100 Aboriginal People from around Australia.

Something like the NAA has been sorely absent for quite some time now. Indigenous People have been effectively trapped, unable to mobilize themselves and nowehere near a position to be heard or respected by the government.

That’s not to say they haven’t …

Following the return of Women for Wik, a group of prominent Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women, an International Women’s Day of Action has been planned for Friday, October 19th to protest against the Australian Government’s action in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Women for Wik, originally formed in 1997 to combat the Howard Government’s attempts to extinguish native title, is calling on Australian women around the world to organise similar events on October 19.

(There are several other National and International events in the works aswell. )

Worldwide Women’s Protest Against Federal Action In The Northern Territory
An …