Camp Sovereignty – Raving Success
Well, that had to be about one of the most fun fortnights of my whole life!
The Black GST had a few key objectives of the campaign (and a few other minor ones) and they were all met.
Firstly, the objective of the campaign was to put the Queen on notice that as sovereign head of Australia, she was ultimately responsible for the historical greivances and future negotiations between the state of Australia and the indigenous people. This was
acheived. Legal notice was delivered to the Queen on the Thursday morning after the opening ceremony that she had 28 days to instruct the Australian Government to:
Instruct the Australian Government to introduce legislation to the Senate to Recognise Sovereignty for Indigenous People in Australia;
Instruct the Australian Government to begin negotiations on her behalf for Treaty between the Australian Government and Indigenous Nations;
If the Queen doesn't comply with this legal notice, charges of genocide will be filed against her with the International Criminal Court.
Secondly, we had a campaign objective of drawing international attention to the issues of genocide, sovereignty and treaty in Australia. This was acheived. Camp Sovereignty 
received coverage in just about every country on the planet, including some pretty major media including the BBC, Reuters, Pravda (Russia) and primetime TV coverage in New Zealand. There was also a solidarity event held outside the Australian Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand (more photos).
Thirdly, we had an objective of bringing people together to discuss the three issues. This was acheived. We had an awesome convergence with an incredibly diverse range of people coming to visit and support the camp. We were overwhelmed with support for the camp, even having to turn some offers of supplies away! And there was some great demonstrations of solidarity and support for the camp including the ANTaR Stolenwealth Letters action, the "Where the bloody hell are ya Bracksy?" demo, the BHP demo and the CSI – Cooks Cottage investigation.
Finally we wanted to spark debate on the unresolved fundamental legal issues in Australia. This was acheived. In almost every paper I read during the Games there was a letter about the issues, everywhere I went people were talking about the Camp and what it was about, web forums were abuzz with the issue. And there was even another opinion piece in the Herald Sun from Paul Gray
discussing the term Stolenwealth. While it was a misinformed piece and based on fundamentally flawed assumptions, at least it was constructive debate, which has been sadly lacking in this country.
So I would say progress has been made. The world is paying a little bit more attention and locally, more attention is being paid and more attempts to understand the true history of Australia are being made.
My highlights of the last couple of weeks were:
- The wonderful presence for the Queen. Especially when the Police allowed Uncle Max
and Wayne Thorpe over the barrier to do smoking ceremony, and the two kids to join the line up to greet the Queen with gum leaves. - The joy of setting up camp and having the first (of many) Police come through the fire
- Meeting the Team Manager of the Cayman Islands who saw us on the news and just had to come find us!
- Watching the nazis sprinting off at the first sign of Police (really, I thought they had more conviction in their beliefs!).
- The kids at camp
- Uncle Kevin's Buzzacott's jokes
- The smiles on all the faces after the came through welcome ceremony
- The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs not batting an eyelid when we slipped it into conversation that we weren't going anywhere after the Games – truly Gavin, we do love you, we might not show it, but we do!
- The day the BBC arrived on site…
- And finally being a part of history. I have too many special memories to list here but the feeling of strength and solidarity that I experienced at Camp Sovereignty will live on in my heart forever.
So to wind this post up, for those wanting to continue their involvement and to hear more stories of Camp Sovereignty, there's plenty of upcoming ways to get involved. See you on Sunday..
1. Black GST Stolenwealth Games Campaign Victory – meeting and celebration
As promised last newsletter, we would like to announce the time, date and venue of a public meeting and celebration to mark the completion of the Black GST 'Stolenwealth Games' campaign – the first major campgain in an ongoing struggle.6pm Sunday April 2nd, Trades Hall Bar, Trades Hall, Carlton (corner Victoria and Lygon Sts)
All Indigenous people and Supporters are invited to come along and hear speeches, reflections, and see some photos, press clippings and video footage from the past 2 weeks. Also a chance to hand over copies of footage and photos and clippings we may not have yet.
2. Permanent presence at Camp Sovereignty
Camp Sovereignty, in its own right, is now a permanent presence in King’s Domain. Below is a list of needed items, if people would like to know how to continue to support Camp Sovereignty staying strong. So far reports are it’s feeling real solid. During the day its business as usual.
• Wood
• Eucalypt branches for the Sacred Fire ( just ask the tree before taking from it )
• Food – Bread Milk Fruit Eggs Meat …
• Ice – don’t bring perishable foods without also bringing ice please!
• Candles, camp lights, couple more torches, batteries
• Tobacco
• Solar Powered Generator (*someone offered one at some stage?)
• or Small generator
• Nice chairs for elderly custodians and guests
There’s also flag, banner and sign making to be done, if folk wanna help.Pop in to make contact and drop off donated goods and provisions. Visit at King’s Domain, just off St Kilda Road near the NGVi and Victoria College of the Arts.
Stolen or Sharing Wealth?
Thought I should share this one from Scoop.
Stolen or Sharing Wealth?
By Rayna Fahey
The 2006 Commonwealth Games is an opportunity for Australia to showcase its success and wealth to the rest of the former British Empire. Such spectacles can only be held in economically secure locations and are only successful when a vibrant local culture is able to hold the festival up and make it shine. The financial benefits for cities that host these extravaganza are huge. As Commonwealth Games Minister Justin Madden said “It’s the best thing we’ve ever done. We’ll be displaying to the world what we’re best at, in sport, in festivities, in celebration and unity”.
Unfortunately for Minister Madden, the last point is under major debate.
For the Indigenous people of Australia, the Games is a symbol of an undeclared war on their land and against their people. The Aboriginal people – being the oldest known human culture on this planet – have been persecuted by the policies of the Government and ultimately, the British Monarch for over two centuries. For a 40,000 plus year-old culture, it can hardly be surprising that lots of people would be more interested in having words with the Queen while she’s here, than getting excited about a bunch of sweaty, lycra-clad athletes. The Games are a symbolic demonstration of everything the Commonwealth and former Empire stand for; physical conquest over others for glory and power. The only difference is, with the Games there are strict-yet fair rules which are firmly enforced.
When Captain Cook left England to conquer new land in the name of the King, he did so with explicit instruction to negotiate with people found in distant lands for the acquisition of land. Captain Cook directly disobeyed this order in Australia, defying the highest human authority of his people, and to this day has not been brought to account. Cook completely disregarded the spiritual laws that had been governing this continent for millennia and set about beginning one of the worst free-for-all land grabs in the history of colonisation.
Unlike most Commonwealth countries, there was no legal Treaty signed with any Aboriginal Nation. Ironically, the only known Treaty to be drafted and signed in Australia happened in Melbourne, on initiative of one John Batman. However Batman had no sovereign authority and the Crown quickly nullified that document. No attempt to make Treaty has been made since.
Which brings the issue back to the current Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II. Under international law, treaties for land must be signed between sovereign nations and until Australia becomes a republic, that sovereignty remains with the Queen. No surprises then that the Victorian Traditional Land Owners gave unanimous support to a Sacred Fire Treaty Circle to be established in Melbourne during her visit. And no surprises that people from all over Australia representing the Aboriginal Nations are travelling to Melbourne to see her.
Queen Elizabeth knows there are serious issues to address here. In correspondence since her last visit she confirmed she was aware of the issues and was keeping an eye on the situation here, but at that stage wasn’t prepared to intervene. Since that time, the legal situation in Australia has dramatically changed, most significantly with the adoption of anti-genocide legislation.
The legal definition of genocide includes mass murder, the denial of basic-needs services and intentional attempts to assimilate members of one group into another. Many people would like to deny the existence of criminal genocide in Australia, often using the justification that while it may have happened in history, the past is the past and we’ve moved on. However late last year the Prime Minister was quoted as saying that if the Aboriginal people wanted to get anywhere in this world, they had no choice but to assimilate. This statement was an act of criminal genocide under definition of Australian law and no-one blinked an eyelid.
This upcoming visit from the Queen is her first opportunity to step on Australian soil since these laws came into effect, and it is time she intervened. She must give clear direction to John Howard to make serious steps towards reconciliation. An apology is needed now, and negotiations towards Treaty must begin between sovereign nations, before Australia can begin to move on, as most other Commonwealth Nations have.
The Crown and the Government of Australia have an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that they do understand the basic legal issues surrounding the unfinished business in this country. At the moment there isn’t even a brief flicker of recognition of these concepts in their eyes. The Commonwealth Games will be as much a competition between the various Nation States that exist on this land for historymaking as it will be for the athletes. The question of whether this issue is of enough importance to the various visiting dignitaries will decide whether this is indeed a celebration of unity for Australia.
Let’s hope it is.
*************
Rayna Fahey is a supporter of the Black GST and decolonisation and Treaty activist formerly from Aotearoa New Zealand.
www.blackgst.com
www.stolenwealthgames.com
Graffiti Games
So if you’ve not got enough to do with the Stolenwealth Games and feel an artistic streak within you, check out the Graffitti Games.
Very Cool.
Poo weather
In the weekend, there was supposed to be the Ironman in Taupo but it was shortened due to terrible weather conditions. This meant the swim was cancelled and the bike and run shortened to 90km and 21km respectively. A number of athletes chose not to complete this shortened course due to the dangerous conditions.
One of the people who didn’t compete was my mum. Mum was entering her first Ironman and has been training for ages to enter and is naturally, very disappointed that the race couldn’t go ahead. But I am still really proud of her and I can’t wait until next years’ event to be there to cheer her on in person.
Yay mum, you’re my biggest hero!
Love
Me 
Lovin it
I love satire. The humour of satire is definitely my favourite.
And I love cyber-action. As I am such a nerd
That’s why I absolutely adore www.stolenwealthgames.com
Big ups to the genius behind it. Quite possibly one of the raddest people I have ever met!
And the press release rocks too!
Stolenwealth Games Official Website Launched
by Drew Conclusions Wednesday March 01, 2006 at 03:26 PM
drew.conclusions@stolenwealthgames.comStolenwealth Games 2006, the cultural festival of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, was virtually opened today with the launch of the official website, stolenwealthgames.com.
The new site is an interactive information portal, for all people need to know about the Stolenwealth Games and all the fun activities that people can participate in.
The Launch was held today at BMW Edge in Federation Square with a wireless laptop, by Stolenwealth Games General Manager, Drew Conclusions. A tour of the website was given on the big screen; overwhelming amusement was the response from the audience. Permanent access points are being set up at public internet facilities across Victoria during the coming weeks.
“Interest in the Stolenwealth Games is building all over the world and this fresh, exciting and contemporary site will draw in people from Stolenwealth Nations around the globe to find out about the latest news and events” said Mr Conclusions today.
”We have been getting many requests from around the world wanting to know about the Stolenwealth Games. We have provided many ways that individuals and organisations can support the campaign by spreading the word. We have information available for groups overseas willing to organise forums about this campaign.”
The site contains many useful features including:
Latest News
Visitor Information Services
Sporting Events and Locations
Mascot and Baton Details
Volunteer Opportunities
Interactive fancy bitsUnfortunately the Stolenwealth Games is hideously under-funded, bear with us, a few pages are still under construction. The site is already being ridiculed by melbourne2006.com , don’t mind them.
We hope you can join us online.
For more information on Stolenwealth Games 2006 visit http://www.stolenwealthgames.com or email drew.conclusions@stolenwealthgames.com