Dear Murujuga/FARA supporters,
 
We are delighted that our recently returned Murujuga Rock Art Tour, led by Marie Ferland and attended by 29 very happy trippers, was warmly received by the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, especially Board Chair, Vince Adams and Cultural Advisor, Patrick Churnside. They both commented that we should work more closely together to protect the precious rock art we all value so much.
 
We have also been working more closely with the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) on their campaign to stop Woodside’s dangerous Scarborough expansion, which is estimated to produce 6 billion more tonnes of GHG (making it the most polluting project ever to be developed in Australia). It will also have a disastrous impact on the ancient rock art and the surrounding marine environment.
 
With the WA government and industry’s scant regard, apart from lip service, for the further damage to be caused by acidic emissions, we have decided instead to appeal directly to the investors and shareholders – let the market speak, especially in this time of terrifying climate change!
 
To that end, we urge you to please sign CCWA’s postcard action calling on BHP to drop Scarborough gas - Sign this postcard action, calling on BHP to drop Scarborough gas  - and for those of you in Perth, please also consider joining the mass postcard handover rally on Tuesday 17th August at 10am!
 
In addition to the WA Government's wholesale support of the gas industry, the seriously outdated and one-sided Aboriginal Heritage Act has perpetuated government-industry collusion at the cost of Aboriginal heritage protection. Incredibly, the AHA Reform Bill delivered by former Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt just before he left politics to join the boards of Rio and Woodside is simply not fit for purpose and will not prevent another Juukan Cave incident…
 
To make this point to the WA Parliamentarians, perhaps you might consider joining the Kimberley Land Council’s march from King’s Park to Parliament House on Thursday 19 August at 11am?
(https://www.facebook.com/kimberleylandcouncil/photos/a.1483909641861753/2827264427526261/)
 
Political campaigning is long and hard, but we take cheer from the recent victories had by Nuclear Free WA in Aboriginal communities in WA, to be outlined at their August 25th seminar: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/environment-matters-the-road-to-a-nuclear-free-future-for-wa-tickets-164441664445
 
 
Legal actions:
CCWA currently has a case against the WA government for the Works Approval granted for the Scarborough expansion based on outdated information.
FARA is still awaiting the Minister’s verdict on our challenge to Yara’s inadequate new licences – watch this space for more information…
 
We thank you for your continued support – be it through letter writing, submissions, appeals, donations or protest action.  Hopefully growing public awareness about the impacts of toxic emissions and CCWA’s initiatives will finally help us get our long-fought campaign to save Murujuga’s rock art over the line!?
 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Judith Hugo & Marie Ferland, Co-convenors
Friends of Australian Rock Art
j.hugo@fara.com.au / tour@fara.com.au
www.fara.com.au