Kirribilli Protest: Where the bloody hell are you Scott Morrison?

Yesterday morning, on the second successive hottest day on record in Australia, about 300 people descended on the Prime Minister's official residence, Kirribilli House, to demand, “Where the bloody hell are you Scott Morrison?”

The Prime Minister is currently on holidays while catastrophic fire storms are raging across the country, while Sydney is shrouded in toxic smoke and as Australia is facing its worst climate disaster ever. There are media reports that total number of houses lost to bushfires this season - in NSW alone - is 800. And the worst of the fire season is yet to come.

Speakers included G.P., Dr. Kim Loo, a number of parents and students, including mother and son, Deanna and Ambrose Hayes, Aboriginal Elder, Bruce Shillingsworth, Greens politicians Sarah Hanson Young and Mehreen Faruqi, and others.

Protesters erected a tent city at the end of the cul de sac while they sang Christmas carols and chanted, “We are on the right side of history!”

RFS fire fighter, Barry Traill, arrived fresh from the bushfires in Queensland and became overwhelmed as he spoke to the crowd, saying that while they were exhausted, fire fighters on the front line acknowledged that climate protesters were also fighting on the “other front line” in the cities. He later watched on from the sidelines with disbelief as police numbers began to swell throughout the day.

By the early afternoon, the temperature moved towards 40 degrees and despite the peaceful protest, the riot squad was sent in. Many arrests were made, including several young high school students, some elderly people, Greens State MP, David Shoebridge and Fiona Lee, who lost her family home in a bush fire earlier this year. Thirteen year old school girl, Isolde Seppings, was also threatened with arrest and then escorted off site with her father, Barrie.

Another wave of severe heat is expected tomorrow.

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Isolde's Tear

Thirteen year old school girl, Isolde, sheds a tear after being threatened with arrest by the riot squad at today’s climate change protest at Kirribilli House.

More pics to come.

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Tasman Keith at the Chippo Hotel

Yesterday’s powerhouse performance from Gumbaynggir hip hop artist Tasman Keith at the Chippo Hotel, Chippendale.

The video for his latest track, ‘Billy Bad Again’ has just been released.

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NSW is Burning, Sydney is Choking - Climate Emergency Rally

Around 20-30,000 Sydney-siders descended on Town Hall on Wednesday to demand action on climate change. After some of the highest levels of toxic smoke ever seen in the city, the mood at the rally was a dour one. Speakers urged the protesters to keep the pressure on the government and politicians of all persuasions.

A heavy police presence escorted the crowd to Hyde Park, where more speeches were made before the protesters dispersed.

The day ended with some degree of levity when Bo, a male stripper, appeared ‘dressed’ as a fire fighter, in the fountain at Hyde Park, to the delight of the still attendant crowd. After some time, police moved in, escorting him out of the fountain, to a chorus of jeers. Bo was issued a ticket, but not before providing a few awkward moments for the constabulary by tucking the ticket into his g-string and sending them on their way with a few cheeky moves.

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Siemens - Adani Camp Out

About 50 protestors made a surprise visit to the Siemens head offices in Sydney this morning to urge the company not to participate in the Adani coal mine. Siemens is one of the few companies that can provide critical signalling work for Adani’s railway to their planned coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. The coal mine will be one of the largest in the world.

The protestors set up tents outside the building with the intention on camping out for as long as it takes to convince Siemens not to invest in the mine. They conducted a ‘die in’ in front of the offices to demonstrate the devastating effects of climate change. Similar ‘camp outs’ at Siemens offices are currently taking place in Melbourne and Brisbane.

With Sydney still recovering from yesterday’s toxic smoke cloud that descended on the city, the action was a timely reminder of what is at stake with Siemens’ decision, scheduled to be made this Friday.

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Apocalypse Now

Apocalyptic scenes today as Sydney was inundated with toxic smoke from bushfires raging on the city’s fringes and beyond.

According to The Guardian, some of those most vulnerable to the health effects of the toxic smoke are the poor, living in the worst affected outer suburbs of Sydney, such as Richmond, St. Mary's and Riverstone. A local GP said some of her patients were not able to afford air filters, air conditioners or particle masks. Reports say that paramedics have been attending up to 100 respiratory-related call-outs per day. Many more are self admitting to hospital emergency.

These photographs were taken around midday.

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Bushfire Views From The Mount

Images from Echo Point and the Blue Mountains surrounds, as fires continue to burn uncontrolled around the country. These fires, not far from Katoomba, are the main reason why nearby Sydney has been choked with toxic smoke for the last few days.

According to firefighters, many of the fires around NSW and southern Queensland are too big to extinguish, with rain the only chance of putting them out. Substantial rain is not expected until at least late January.

Scientists continue to maintain that these unprecedented mega-fires have been exacerbated by climate change.

Temperatures are forecast to reach into the 40s early next week.

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The View That Should Have Been

Tourists pose next to a billboard displaying an image of the view at Echo Point lookout that has been obscured by thick smoke from unprecedented bushfires raging in the Blue Mountains north west of Sydney.

More pics to come.

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Observations of a City Strangled

Observations of a City Strangled

 

The blanket of smoke settles heavily upon the City

Like a pillow smothering a Loved One,

Not out of Compassion

But out of Spite.

 

The Emerald City is muted with stifled hues

While the sun burns blood-orange through the jaundiced haze.

 

The streets are quietened.

Pallid-faced commuters on their way home

Speak with hushed tones

Over the hum of traffic and wails of distant sirens.

 

Even the Christmas parties are subdued.

The well-heeled, black tied, stiletto stuttering fashionable set

Retire early,

Parting ways with dubious apologies and gritted, sweating smiles.

Passers-by throw each other furtive glances through stinging eyes.

Behind the masks there is a mutual admission.

A secret, suffocating, guilty shame.

  

Ash begins to fall,

Fluttering down like the season’s first snow.

A charcoaled Christmas that has come too soon.

People look wide-eyed

To the sky

Open mouthed and breathless.

Hands tighten.

This is a City Strangled

Not by Smoke,

But by a grim, determined denialism.

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Protest Against Siemens Support of Adani Mega Coal Mine

Yesterday, about 150 people gathered outside Luna Park where a $1,500 per head gala dinner was held by Siemens. Siemens is one of the few companies that can provide critical signalling work for Adani’s railway to their planned coal mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. The coal mine will be one of the largest in the world. Protesters urged Siemens not to proceed with a decision to work on the Adani project.

Ironically, dinner guests arrived on charted cruise boats and dressed in tuxedos as the skies closed down with thick acrid bushfire smoke. The current bushfires raging across the country are said to be exacerbated by climate change and the emission of greenhouse gasses, including those emitted by the burning of coal. Former fire chiefs have also backed up claims that climate change is impacting bushfires. The smoke from these fires are said to be hazardous to health and is expected to hang around Sydney at least for weeks.

It was later reported that two demonstrators ‘locked on’ inside the dinner.

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Country on Fire: Bushfires and Sunset over Sydney

The sun sets over Sydney through bushfire smoke.

The acrid haze that has choked the entire Sydney basin and much of NSW for the last few weeks, as a result of catastrophic bushfires, came to a dramatic head tonight at sunset.

Smoke could be seen billowing out to the north and west of the city as a portent for the start of summer and as a sign that we are in the midst of a climate emergency.

Despite crippling drought and the devastation of bushfires across the country, there has been a deafening silence and conspicuous inaction by government leaders on the front of combatting climate change.

It seems we are sleepwalking into a catastrophe…

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Nation Dance on Gadigal - Portraits

In-situ portraits of some of the performers at ‘Nation Dance’ on Gadigal.

‘Nation Dance’ was held in The Domain in Warrang, Sydney yesterday at 1pm AEST, as part of scores of simultaneous expressions of dance and culture across the continent.

Around 200 people from a variety of tribes attended the Gadigal event, including from Gamillaraay, Dhungutti, Wiradjuri and from far away as Mornington Island.

These portraits were taken on site in the aftermath of the dancing.

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Nation Dance on Gadigal

Images from ‘Nation Dance’, which was held in The Domain in Warrang, Sydney yesterday at 1pm AEST as part of scores of simultaneous expressions of dance and culture across the continent.

Around 200 people from a variety of tribes attended the Gadigal event, including from Gamillaraay, Dhungutti, Wiradjuri and from far away as Mornington Island.

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Climate Rallies

Two climate rallies were held today in Sydney, Warrang, Gadigal.

The first was held at the Liberal Party Headquarters on William Street as part of the ‘School Strike 4 Climate’ movement. Aunty Rhonda Dixon-Grovernor and Nadeena Dixon delivered an Acknowledgement of Country, while Victor Steffensen a Gimuy-walubarra yidi man spoke about Aboriginal fire practice. Other speakers included Shiann Broderick, a 18 year old bushfire survivor and school strike leader from Nymboida NSW, and Janet Reynolds, a bushfire survivor from Numbugga. Zach Fower, a student musician who featured on The Voice sang a rendition of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. Around 2,000 people attended the rally.

The second event was organised by Uni Student for Climate Justice, backed by ASEN and endorsed by FIRE. The rally started at Sydney Town Hall. Speakers included Amy Lamont, ‘Yaama Ngunna Baarka’ (Save The Rivers) founder, Bruce Shillingsworth, Lily Rosebell and Gamillaraay man, Nathan Leslie. Protestors then marched back to William Street, where more speeches were made, including by environmental worker, Andy Mason.

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Dance Rites - Day Two

Images from Day 2 of Dance Rites, a hotly contested annual First Nations dance competition held on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

Muggera took out the top prize with Miku as runners up. The Meuram Murray Island Dancers won the Wild Card section.

Participating Dance troupes included:

Allkumo Malpa Paman (Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Kaantju, Umpila, Munkaanhu, Olkola)

Docker River Mob (Pitjantjantjara, Ngaaryatjarra)

Gracie’s Grannies (Ngiyampaa, Gumbangirri, Murrawarri, Dunghutti, Gamilaroi)

Gumaraa Aboriginal Dancers (Yuin, Dharawal)

Jannawi Dance Clan (Darug Burruberongal, Gumatj)

Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group (Lockhart River Umpila, Kuku Yau, Wuthathi, Kanthanapoo, Utaalanganu)

Kulgoodah Dancers (Barradah, Birri Gubba)

Kurruru & Iwiri Dance (Pitjantjatjara)

Meuram Murray Island Dancers (Meriam)

Miku (Rirratjingu, Gumatj, Djapu)

Muggera (Mununjali, Yugambeh)

Mutitjulu Maruku Mob (PitjantjantjarA)

Of Desert and Sea (Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Yarliyandi, Adnyamathanha, Yankunytjatjara)

Dinawan Connections (Gomeroi, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Ngemba)

Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group (Wemba Wemba)

Tal-kin-jeri Dance Group (Ngarrind-jeri)

Tiwi SisterGALS (Gay and Lesbian Society) (Yarti - Ratuwarti)

Wagana (Wiradjuri, Darug , Burruberongal, Yuin, Gamilaroi,Dharawal)

Yiiliwiyaygundi Gundi Yuludarla Gumbaynggirr (Gumbaynggirr)

Indigenous Enterprise (Turtle Island)

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Dance Rites - Day One

Images from Day 1 of Dance Rites, a hotly contested annual First Nations dance competition held on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

Participating Dance troupes include:

Allkumo Malpa Paman (Ayapathu, Lama Lama, Kaantju, Umpila, Munkaanhu, Olkola)

Docker River Mob (Pitjantjantjara, Ngaaryatjarra)

Gracie’s Grannies (Ngiyampaa, Gumbangirri, Murrawarri, Dunghutti, Gamilaroi)

Gumaraa Aboriginal Dancers (Yuin, Dharawal)

Jannawi Dance Clan (Darug Burruberongal, Gumatj)

Kawadji Wimpa Dance Group (Lockhart River Umpila, Kuku Yau, Wuthathi, Kanthanapoo, Utaalanganu)

Kulgoodah Dancers (Barradah, Birri Gubba)

Kurruru & Iwiri Dance (Pitjantjatjara)

Meuram Murray Island Dancers (Meriam)

Miku (Rirratjingu, Gumatj, Djapu)

Muggera (Mununjali, Yugambeh)

Mutitjulu Maruku Mob (PitjantjantjarA)

Of Desert and Sea (Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri, Narungga, Yarliyandi, Adnyamathanha, Yankunytjatjara)

Dinawan Connections (Gomeroi, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Ngemba)

Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group (Wemba Wemba)

Tal-kin-jeri Dance Group (Ngarrind-jeri)

Tiwi SisterGALS (Gay and Lesbian Society) (Yarti - Ratuwarti)

Wagana (Wiradjuri, Darug , Burruberongal, Yuin, Gamilaroi,Dharawal)

Yiiliwiyaygundi Gundi Yuludarla Gumbaynggirr (Gumbaynggirr)

Indigenous Enterprise (Turtle Island)

Day Two photographs coming.

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Miku Dancers - Dance Rites

Image of the Miku dance group from Rirratjingu, Gumatj and Djapu country in the Top End, Northern Territory.

Dance Rites, Sydney Opera House forecourt - Day 1.

More pics to come.

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Coronial Inquest Delivers No Respite for Dungay Family

Today, the coronial inquest into David Dungay’s death delivered its findings.

Dhungutti man, Dungay, was killed at Long Bay Gaol in 2015, when set upon and forcibly restrained by a group of prison officers after he refused to hand over a packet of biscuits. “I can’t breathe” were some of his last few words.

Deputy State Coroner Derek Lee did not find any of the five prison officers involved in the action, nor any other correctional services employee involved, responsible or liable, although he did note that the force used by the officers was a contributing factor to Dungay’s death.

For the Dungay family, the findings offered no respite. His nephew, Paul Silva confronted NSW Corrections Services Commissioner, Peter Severin, as he left the court, to demand an apology for the death of his uncle. The Commissioner declined to respond.

Speaking to the media, Dungay’s mother, Leetona, said she was “disgusted” by the result. “I’m his mother and I want justice,” she said, “I am going to fight until I live in a country where black lives matter”.

The family intends to continue their long pursuit for justice.

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