Wednesday September 2, 2009, 8:25 pm
Noted and signed!Thanks,David.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 8:27 pm
GetUp to me 10:15 AM (1 hour ago)

Dear David,

We'd like to share a message to you from an Indigenous homelands resident, Barayuwa Mununggurr:

"We all have equal rights to be clothed, to be sustained, to have shelter, and this also includes our homelands, big and small. These are places of significance to us, that have our songlines, where our names come from, where our dance comes from, where our art comes from, and where our law and culture comes from - it makes us who we are.

Next week we are meeting with the Government to look at ways in which we can work together in partnership for our future in our Homelands. But we can only solve this together. When we walk into meetings at Parliament House, it would make us so confident to have thousands of Australians (and you?) there in spirit - then I'm sure they would hear us.".

Can you help Barayuwa by signing a petition to secure the future of these vibrant homelands?

Homelands are small remote communities where Indigenous Australians are living on land that has nourished their mothers and fathers for thousands of generations. They are demonstrated success stories. Homelands mean better health and longer life expectancies. They are areas where locals are applying traditional knowledge to 'care for country' and tackle climate change through traditional burning techniques and carbon preservation. Plus they are the source of much of Australia's beautiful Indigenous art.

But these success stories are under threat. The NT (Northern territory)Government plan to funnel funding increases into just 20 'growth towns', leaving over 600 communities with woefully inadequate resources. In effect this will force homelands residents off their lands to access services that are often hundreds of kilometers away. The Federal Government needs to step up and ensure these communities receive the funding they need.

Next week Barayuwa and a delegation of leaders from homeland communities are meeting the federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs. At stake is the survival of over 600 unique, vibrant Indigenous communities.

The Government think they're meeting with just 8 people next week. But imagine if those 8 can carry with them the support of tens of thousands more - a pile of petition signatures so large it takes all of them to carry it in.

Can you make it happen? Watch this personal video message (visit site) from the homelands and sign the petition before Barayuwa presents it to key politicians next week?

Thanks for being part of this,
The GetUp team

PS - The future of over 600 vibrant Indigenous communities is under threat. Support Indigenous leaders by signing this petition before they present it to key politicians next week.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 8:27 pm
Noted and signed, thanks David.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 8:52 pm
Done! Thanx David.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 8:56 pm
gone
thx

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 9:13 pm
Yea man, here in New Mexico we have the only real preservation of original homelands and villages-Pueblos that existed before the 1500's in the United States. Working with indigenous people is the hallmark of a pluralistic society, or one that respects other cultures. Racism is a real problem and the genocide of 90% of the indigenous people of North America by the Europeans is why most indigenous people are on reservations that are not their original homelands, if they survived in other states. Indiana was named Indiana because the population of Native Americans was so high there. Today there are NO indigenous people in Indiana... A fact too many times told over and over from state to state.

Good luck MATE getting respect and equality for the Aborigine People in Australia. It is the right thing to do.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 9:51 pm
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you~~done deal.

[WoW--that's pretty effin' RUDE]
Namaste xo [as always]

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 10:18 pm
Oh yes-I belong to GetUp! What a great organization-have been a member for a few years-

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 10:19 pm
And yes, signed /noted-thanks David.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 11:21 pm
Thank you for taking action - a record has been sent to your email address.

Always glad to help you out, David!
noted.

Wednesday September 2, 2009, 11:30 pm
Thanks and done and shared with facebook

Thursday September 3, 2009, 12:29 am
Signed Thanks David

Thursday September 3, 2009, 3:05 am
I signed and thank you. I believe in culture and they are one of the oldest cultures in the world that still exist. They are one of the few who can live off the land. This should not be happening to these people. We can learn a lot from culture. Also the morals that go with these people. Why can't we leave perfection alone?

Thursday September 3, 2009, 3:32 am
Done so be it!
peace be with us all

Thursday September 3, 2009, 4:35 am
This happened in the USA during the 1950's called the Urban Relocation Program. Most Native Americans will tell you, it wasn't a sucess. A feeling of being cut off from your tribal roots, promises by the Government that was not kept, if a job was offered at all it was low wage, feelings of isolation which lead to alcoholism.
This relocation did spring forth however, the American Indian Movement, which in turn took the city ways back to the reservation. That in itself has raised a host of issues whether one feels pro or con on the matter...but did also lead to the Wounded Knee events of 1973. Which lead to the modern day political prisoner Leonard Peltier, who is the prime example and focal point of all the First Peoples in this Country, to reflect how wrong the Native Americans have been treated and are still being treated.
I would think that Australia could look at the USA and learn from the disasters that we have caused with our own indgenous peoples, the Native Americans, and try not to walk down the same road. This seems to be the trouble with this world, no one seems to learn from others mistakes, so these indigenous people of Australia might be forced to suffer a similar fate....if what they have not already suffered hasn't been bad enough.
This relocation isn't to "help" the indigenous of Australia, it isn't what they want or need. This relocation is the white mans attempt to get rid of what they feel is a problem to them, or to change things to "their" ways for they feel "their" ways are superior. As the lands around the world are being raped for further consumption to buy into the "my way" is better attitude, that this is somehow progress, the pollution, the isolation, the loss of medicinal plants, destruction of species....all not found under an indigenous way of life, one has to stop and think, who has the better way of life?
The indigenous all around the world worked in harmony with the Earth, they shared all they had among themselves, they had a strong family bond, a bond to their community and the land. The so called way of progress that has been shoved down everyones throats.....well look around, it speaks for itself....and only a few at the top get the golden ring so to speak.
In all that is good and sacred, allow these indigenous in Australia to remain where they are and to be perhaps a beacon around the world to show the rest of the world how to save themselves from the mess they got themselves in....don't stamp out the little campfires of Hope for Humanity.
Signed with pleasure....I'm only sorry I can't go there and help them further.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 5:31 am
Signed. Thanks David.

Thanks for signing the petition

Thursday September 3, 2009, 6:25 am
"Thanks for signing the petition"

Thursday September 3, 2009, 6:28 am
Yes to Justice.

Thanks.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 6:44 am
signed David with pleasure...The Aboriginal peoples are one of the most ancient races om the planet .their culture is rich in ancient Earth Knowledge.They are a beautiful people... Dandelion is right... so may this work better for them than it did for our ancient beautiful peoples.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 6:44 am
Noted and signed, thanks David. The video says it all. The people want to live and die on their own land.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 6:57 am

Gladly signed.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 7:07 am
Noted and signed,thank you.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 7:34 am
Thanks Dandelion for sending this to me. I think it's a disease of the whites that require them to keep changing things, no matter who it hurts. Or maybe a compulsion compounded by money. When do we learn to put down the selfishness and greed?

Thursday September 3, 2009, 8:36 am
Signed, placed on my blog, facebook and twitter. This is a GREAT cause and I thank you so much for your efforts to save the world from itself, David!

Thursday September 3, 2009, 9:18 am
Thank you for taking action - a record has been sent to your email address.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 9:30 am
Once more, thank you David for standing up instead of sitting back. "Signed, sealed and delivered." -- Alice

Thursday September 3, 2009, 9:34 am
noted & signed

Thursday September 3, 2009, 9:47 am
Noted & signed. Thanks

Thursday September 3, 2009, 11:06 am
Noted and signed... thank you!

Thursday September 3, 2009, 11:25 am
Horus /Mars
Initiation of a new Aeon
Horus/God of War and Vengence
When it becomes necessary to utter a Word,The whole planet will be bathed in blood,Before man is ready to accept the Law of Thelema,The great War must be fought.this bloody sacrifice is the critical point of the World Ceremony,of the proclamation of Horus.The crowned and conquering child,As Lord of the Aeon.Son of Isis and Osiris.Book"The Hidden God"Kenneth Grant/Alister Crowley

Thursday September 3, 2009, 1:35 pm
An emphatic thumbs up to you David. Signed with pleasure.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 2:08 pm
Signed Mitakuye Oyasin

Thursday September 3, 2009, 2:09 pm
Hope noting and signed helps.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 2:24 pm
Many thanks to all who have or may sign this petition...

If you took the time to watch the short video your understanding of the plight of these people may well be enhanced...

The most important thing (to me) that the video does not tell is that the Australian Aborigine lives by the ethos: (The Aboriginal people are shy, but very deep people, so I will say it for them)..."If I have something and you have nothing, that which I have, is yours to share"...My words (A rough interpretation) but wouldn't it be wonderfull if that was the way of the world?...

Will it never be this way again?...Money, money, money?...

Please sign the petition so that those who care and live in harmony with the (our) earth can continue to do so?

Thursday September 3, 2009, 2:49 pm
I cannot think of a better person, with a greater cause, then to have you be the one to take it up David...I concur with all the great statements made here. Thank god for all the warriors, striving for justice and peace..You go David Buchan. I'm on my way to sign.. and I will send this to all that I can... Take care "Brave Heart"

Thursday September 3, 2009, 4:40 pm
Thank You

Thanks for signing the petition.

Can you chip in to get representatives from the Laynhapuy Homelands down to Canberra to present our petition and share their stories?

There are no air routes from these regional communities, so flying to Canberra will be expensive. The cost is literally tens of thousands of dollars. A plane is ready to go, and the meetings are locked in - all we need now are the funds to make it happen.

Can you contribute to make sure these important stories get heard where it counts?
=================================================================================

NOTE THE REQUEST FOR A CHIP-IN TO COVER FLIGHT COSTS.

Thank you David

Thursday September 3, 2009, 8:15 pm
I will gladlly sign this petition. The Aboriginal peoples MUST be protected, their lives and their ways of life. They MUST be allowed to stay where they feel it is their home. Ignorant, greedy people with only money on their minds are destroying this planet quicker than we realize. The original people should be protected, given descent wages for their work, given opportunities to live a happy and healthy life, and the future secured for their children and grandchildren so they may prosper and live well on the land that is theirs to begin with. God bless them all.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 8:58 pm
Signed gladly ty David

Thursday September 3, 2009, 9:34 pm
Thanks for signing the petition. Glad you're back David ... thanks for this one !

Thursday September 3, 2009, 10:29 pm
Noted & signed.

Thursday September 3, 2009, 10:44 pm
"given descent wages for their work" Nell?...Why 'work' for wages to fill anothers' pocket with money, when life is simple and to play is fun...To put food on the table is enough...Why 'work' at all?...Here, food abounds, on the land, on foot, on trees...There really is no need to OWN anything, let alone a big house, 3 cars, 4 caravans etc. in order to impress your neighbors...Capitalism is rubbish...

Let us just leave these people alone and envy their idyllic life we, so long ago, destroyed for ourselves?

Thursday September 3, 2009, 11:05 pm
The homelands initiative sounds fantastic -- Aboriginal people have strong ties to their land and should be able to live there in peace. They have had too much colonial abuse. I admire them for loving their land and knowing how to live with and on it. Maybe Aboriginal people will survive, while the "West" burns itself out, who knows. We could learn a lot from original peoples.

Friday September 4, 2009, 2:55 am
I truly hope Aboriginal people get their day in court.But I doubt anything will change,the Govt throws us a bone and we feel like we are going to get something done..A ploy,trick they use to get us to comply,they won't even free Leonard Peltier.I had high hopes,and I did all I could for him.Its the same old song and dance,the rich get richer and the poor gets poorer.I don't trust no Govt,here in the US or anywhere else.I think the Gods have abandon us,Corporate greed is every where,especially if you got something they want.A qoute from my elders,There will be no peace in the world until The US.Govt comes clean in the eyes of the world to what it did to the Natives Americans.

Friday September 4, 2009, 10:41 am
In capitalism, the mining corporations, pastoral corporations, agricultural corporations and small farmers all use their enormous power to influence the government and voters (e.g. political donations to political parties, threats of job losses, plus the influence over the corporate media that comes when corporations fund the corporate media by advertising in it).

That is why many voters and goverments in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the USA, and Latin American countries with very capitalist governments, such as Colombia, Mexico and Peru, oppress the relatively powerless Indigenous people, so that the much more powerful corporations and white settlers can get wealth.

The root problem is capitalism. Therefore, the more you get involved in the Indigenous rights movement, the more you will see the connections of individual issues with the entire political-economic system - and you will find yourself working with socialists. :P

Friday September 4, 2009, 10:24 pm
19,534 have joined this campaign - help us get to 25,000.
Done TX David

Saturday September 5, 2009, 5:07 am
Thanks David and signed! Reminds me of our Native Americans here!

Sunday September 13, 2009, 6:43 pm
Noted and signed with many thanks David.

Sunday September 20, 2009, 5:02 pm
Signed, sealed and delivered.

Sunday September 27, 2009, 10:02 am
Noted and signed the petition !
Thank you David !