Contributed by: Anonymous, Arizona Indymedia posted 10/16/06
Around 30 people descended upon Peabody's office in Newcastle on 10/09/06 in
protest against Peabody's practices of Cultural and Eco Genocide on the
homelands of the Navajo and Hopi peoples in America and their interest
in doing the same on Australian Lands.
Solidarity in Australia with the Indigenous peoples of the Black Mesa
End the Genocide!
Around 30 people descended upon Peabody's office in Newcastle today in
protest against Peabody's practices of Cultural and Eco Genocide on the
homelands of the Navajo and Hopi peoples in America and their interest in
doing the same on Australian Lands.
Members of the United Nations of South-Pacific and people from over 5
different countries including the Hunter Valley occupied the office to
demand that the continued disregard of cultural and environmental heritage
end and companies such as Peabody Coal cease practices which jeopardize
the future of the planet.
Climate change now is a global issue and the global community must now act
to protect what is left of our precious environment. These coal companies
have no place in our future the way they desecrate the earth and our sacred
homelands said Arthur Ridgeway who is a traditional owner of the
Pambalong area that now makes up Newcastle.
The group presented Peabody with a signed petition which demanded an end to
the continual displacement of the Traditional owners of Dinetah, where the
current Peabody operated coal mine in South West America has so far
forcefully evicted over 15000 people from there land. The group also
demanded an end to the desecration of buriel grounds, sacred sites,
precious flora and fauna which make up the Bio-region, and an end to the
expansion of Coal Mining in America, Australia and all over the world due
to its climate change impacts.
The group also demanded Peabody cancel there bid on Excel Coal which is an
Australian Coal company they are trying to merge with. “Peabody’s
practices in America have shown that they have no regard for the earth
their and they will do the same here. We will not let the desecration of
indigenous cultures continue, here in Australia or overseas. Arthur said.
The action was very peaceful and the group of protesters left once the
letter was promised to be sent to Peabody Head office in America and to
be replied to the group demands. The action received newspaper, radio and
television media.
Office occupation movie clip & photos at:
http://arizona.indymedia.org/news/2006/10/51018.php
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20061016150420871