aboriginies in australia:
On the 40th anniversary of a vote that recognised them as Australian citizens for the first time, Aboroginal groups have signed two deals that will generate millions of dollars.
(...) In Queensland the Chinese aluminium group Chalco signed an agreement on Friday with a local group and the local council to develop bauxite reserves in the region. Elsewhere in the Northern territory another group agreed to have a nuclear waste dump placed on their outback land in return for millions of dollars in benefits.
(...) An early blueprint calls for 3,800 construction jobs over three years, including 700 for the mine and washing plant at Aurukun and 3,100 for the refinery. It would also require a permanent workforce of about 600.
(...) News.com.au reported Neville Pootchemunka, Aurukun’s mayor, as saying the agreement ushered in a new beginning for the community of about 1100 people in Cape York. Australia is experiencing a mining boom. "It's opening the corridors for employment and training enterprise and business. This is an historic milestone for my people." [when 600 permanent jobs is historic, we know that this world is not worth its weight in salt]
(...) [on the nuclear deal] Christine Milne, a member of the senate representing the Green party, sait the deal exploited Aborigines and showed Prime Minister John Howard's eagerness to embrace nuclear power.