Portraits of the Djabugay Dancers (Djumburru Nyiwul Djabuganydj) at a Children’s Naming Ceremony, Cairns, Gimuy, Yidindji.
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Sovereign Yidindji Government Close Borders
The Sovereign Yidindji Government temporarily closed their borders last night at the Cairns airport in a symbolic move to enforce its territorial borders. Other synchronised closures were simultaneously performed at 12 midnight at sea borders to the east and land borders to the north, south and west.
The Sovereign Yidindji Government has set up a nationhood with its own block-chained currency, legal structure and administrative system in a practical proposition and response to First Nations sovereignty.
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Cassius Turvey Vigil, Gadigal
Yesterday, thousands of people turned up to vigils around Australia to commemorate the death of 15-year old Noongar-Yamiji boy, Cassius Turvey, who died after allegedly being beaten to death on his way home from school in Perth, in what many say was a racially motivated murder and hate crime.
Around 3-5,000 people turned up to Sydney Town Hall, Gadigal, where a candle-light vigil was held. Members of Cassius’ family were present and were amongst speakers who called for an end to the continuing violence against Aboriginal people.
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Women Life Freedom - Rally for Iran
Photographs of the latest protest rally in Sydney calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic in Iran after Kurdish Iranian woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, died in custody after being arrested by the state-run ‘morality police’ for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly.
This weekend marks one month since Amin’s death.
Protests around the world - and throughout Iran - continue amid reports that oil refinery workers in Iran have gone on strike, along side universities and students.
Over chants of ‘Women, Life, Freedom!’, speakers at yesterday’s rally in Martin Place urged Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to cut ties with the Iranian regime. Actors played out a theatrical performance, symbolising the violence of Iranian police and the current uprising of women across the country.
More protests are expected.
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Time Has Come - Protest Against the Femicide of Jina Mahsa Amini
Yesterday, a passionate crowd of about 5,000 people turned up at Belmore Park in Sydney’s CBD to protest against the femicide of 22-year old Jina Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly killed on the 16th of September in the north-western Iranian city of Saqez by the so called ‘Morality Police’. Amini was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly, according to Islamic law in Iran. Her death has sparked outrage and protests across the globe, including in Iran, where scores of protesters have subsequently been killed. There are also reports that the Internet has been shut down, or dramatically curtailed across Iran.
Speakers at yesterday’s rally called for the ousting of the extremist Islamic regime in Iran, and pressed the Australian government and the global community to do more to ensure women’s rights in Iran are protected. The rally finished with several women symbolically cutting their hair. It was one of many protests held yesterday across Australia and around the world.
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Protest Against the Femicide of Mahsa Amini
Protesters gathered yesterday at Sydney Town Hall, Gadigal, to rally against the femicide of Mahsa Amini, whose death at the hands of Iran’s ‘Morality Police’ has caused worldwide outrage.
Witnesses say that Amini was detained and then beaten to death by police on the 16th of September for allegedly not wearing a hijab in public. Iran has a strict dress code for women which is enforced by the state run Guidance Patrol, also known as the ‘Morality Police’.
Several large protests have broken out across Iran, with thousands taking to the streets and women burning hijabs. Multiple deaths by state police have been reported, with further unrest expected.
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Abolish the Monarchy Rally
Yesterday, on the public holiday especially created to commemorate the death of Queen Elizabeth II, thousands of people turned out to Sydney Town Hall and in other cities around Australia to demand the abolition of the monarchy.
The focus at the rally in Sydney, Gadigal, was particularly on the devastating impact that the British Monarchy has had - and continues to have - on Aboriginal and First Nations peoples here and in other parts of the world.
After speeches at Town Hall, the rally marched to Queen Square on Macquarie Street, where a statue of the original colonial monarch, Queen Victoria, was cordoned off by a ring of police and riot squad members.
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University Workers Strike at UTS
University workers at the University of Technology (UTS) took industrial action this morning to demand better pay and working conditions.
After years of staff cuts, increasing work loads and more insecure employment, members of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) striked for 2 hours in the first of what is expected to be a series of strikes and other industrial action.
The current Vice-Chancellor of UTS is purportedly on a salary of $1 million per year.
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The Fierce Violets
Photos from ‘The Fierce Violets’, an afternoon of spoken poetry and music at the Chippo Hotel, featuring Charles Freyberg, Marguerite Montes, Peter Urqhuart and Lou Steer.
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Nurses and Midwives Strike
Healthcare staff from St Vincent’s Hospital rallied today in solidarity with nurses and midwives, who went on strike around the State today, to demand lower nurse to patient ratios, more pay and better working conditions. The pandemic has stretched the workforce to breaking point, while the union says lives are at risk.
To compound issues, wages are struggling to keep up with runaway inflation. Industrial action has taken place recently in other sectors, such as on the rail, train and bus lines and in the public service, as workers feel the pinch on household budgets and as governments and business tighten their spending.
Greens federal senator, David Shoebridge was in attendance and spoke briefly to the rally.
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Glitch: A Playground of the Apocalypse
A few photos from Saturday night’s ‘Glitch’ event at Sydenham Green, organised by Tortuga Studios and part of Edge run by the Inner West Council.
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Woolloomoolivin' Festival
Photos from last week’s annual Woolloomoolivn’ street festival, which made a post-Covid return this year.
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Palestinian Rally at Sydney Town Hall
Around 200 people turned up to Sydney Town Hall yesterday to protest against the bombing of Gaza by Israeli armed forces. Latest reports are that up to 47 Palestinians have been killed in the airstrikes, including at least 16 children, according to Palestinian officials. Israeli jet fighters flattened homes and Gaza’s only solar energy farm has been shut down, creating an even greater power shortage amongst Palestinian civilians.
Islamic Jihad claimed it had fired 1000 rockets back into Israel, although most of these are believed to have been shot down by Israeli defence forces.
Some are claiming the latest attacks are linked to elections that are due to be held in Israel in November, while others see that the current conflict also involves a political struggle within Gaza.
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Climate Justice Solidarity Rally
Photos from yesterday’s Climate Justice Rally at Bradfield Park, Milson’s Point. Organisers aimed to bring attention to the demand for an Advisory Opinion on climate justice and human rights from International Court of Justice to the United Nations. By endorsing this Advisory Opinion, it is hoped greater action on climate change can be achieved through the U.N.
Pacific Islands are at the forefront of climate change and are currently some of the most impacted communities on earth due to increasing fossil fuel emissions. This was a focus of yesterday’s rally.
Performers from communities around Sydney gathered to add their voice to endorse the Advisory Opinion, including the Swastik Institute for Dance, Africa Beat and the Fiji Sydney Catholic Youth Meke Group. The MC for the day was Shiva Gouden from Greenpeace Australia Pacific. The Welcome to Country and opening smoke were performed by Uncle Chika Madden and Yuin man Mark Merriman.
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The Cane Croppers
Sugar cane workers just outside of Mossman in Far North Queensland burn fields at the end of harvest, to rejuvenate the soil in preparation for the sowing of the next crop.
Against the dramatic backdrop of the world heritage Daintree rainforest, young men and boys set fields of cane refuse alight at sunset, under the watchful eye of farmer and head supervisor, Gary Mackay.
This year, the sugar cane industry has been hit by unseasonal rains across the dry season - over 250mm last month alone - a result of La Niña which has drenched the east coast of Australia.
COVID-19 has also impacted the cane industry as the workforce shrinks due to virus. This labour shortage means longer work hours for already pressed rural workers, such as these cane croppers. Truck drivers and tractor operators are being sought from overseas, from the Philippines, and elsewhere.
Despite this, the industry is looking to the future to produce cane not just for sugar, but also for the new ‘low carbon’ economy, as a source of biofuel and biodegradable plastics. The viability of the entire industry relies on the success of this kind of forward looking diversification. Otherwise, the very survival of towns like Mossman and farms such as Gary Mackay’s, is at risk.
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Cultural Burning on Djabugay
Photographs of last week’s cultural burning on Djabugay country at the Mona Mona (Munu Munu) mission, around the Cairns region in Far North Queensland.
Victor Steffensen of Firesticks led a gathering of local Bama rangers to demonstrate and discuss concepts of fire management as a cultural practice.
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Sovereign Yidindji Government Welcomes Elder
Last week, the Sovereign Yidindji Government welcomed Elder, Wumindhaa Wullunjarrdii, to its offices on Yidindji country, to talk about his struggles to lay claims to his own traditional Kukatj country in the Gulf.
Wumindhaa Wullunjarrdii was welcomed to Yidindji by local Elder and Minister for Police and Cultural Affairs in the Sovereign Yidindji Government, Bumi Gimuybara, and Yidindji Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Murrumu of Walubara, who were on hand to introduce him to local Yidindji police.
From their website, “The Sovereign Yidindji Government was created by Jangalan Yidindji, which is the tribal council of elders. The Government is the official voice of the nation and administrative legal personality to speak for and on behalf of the Yidindji nation. The SYG aims to codify and describe the laws, customs and traditions of the society and create titles, offices and other required instruments to help Yidindji interact with the world. The SYG and tribal law although connected are two different universes.”
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Toydeath at Mothership Studios
Photographs of Toydeath playing at Mothership Studios in Marrickville last Friday night.
Toydeath are a band who modify electronic toys as musical instruments.
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The Longest Night: Sydney Homeless Memorial Service
Today is Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.
Tonight, thousands of men, women and children are sleeping rough on the streets around Australia.
And over the past 12 months, many homeless people have died living on the streets of Sydney.
This evening, around 150 people gathered on the forecourt of St. Mary’s Cathedral to hold a candlelight vigil and memorial for those homeless people who have passed whilst sleeping rough. The Sydney Street Choir performed at tonight's memorial.
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The Longest Night: Dream Girls
A homeless man sleeps outside a Kings Cross night club.
Today is Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.
Tonight, thousands of men, women and children are sleeping rough on the streets around Australia.
And over the past 12 months, many homeless people have died living on the streets of Sydney.
Photos of this evening’s candlelight memorial to those people who have passed to come.
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