Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: $30 billion solar project approval prompts search for Indigenous land to use in Australia, Maasai block tourist road after forced eviction from their land in Tanzania, seven Uyghur brothers jailed in Xinjiang, and study finds thousands missing bowel cancer screening in New Zealand.
AUSTRALIA: Indigenous lands sought for solar project
Following federal approval, a renewable energy project, hailed as one of the world’s largest solar developments, is now focusing on securing Indigenous land-use agreements, the National Indigenous Times reported Aug. 22.
Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes is set to continue his investment in Australia’s largest solar farm after the project received approval from federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
The $30 billion SunCable Australia-Asia Power Link, planned for a former pastoral station near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, is expected to power three million homes, create 14,000 jobs, and accelerate research and manufacturing in renewable technology.
The 12,000-hectare (29,653-acre) solar farm will generate 4GW of renewable energy, with the majority being exported via an 800-kilometer (497-mile) transmission line, both overland and undersea, to Darwin, and then on to Singapore. Cannon-Brookes, the CEO of Sydney-based global tech giant Atlassian, who is backing the project, described the venture as a landmark for Australia’s renewable export sector.
“Full credit to the SunCable team; this is a major milestone for them,” he said, according to National Indigenous Times. “It’s a massive project … a decade-long effort to significantly impact Australia’s export industry, and these milestones are crucial.”
SunCable Australia’s managing director Cameron Garnsworthy said the company aims for a final investment decision by 2027 and is collaborating with Singaporean and Indonesian authorities on approvals for its subsea connections.
Plibersek said the solar farm and transmission lines would enhance the Northern Territory economy and elevate Australia’s status in renewable energy, as global economies pursue net-zero emissions by 2050.
“It will be the largest solar precinct in the world, positioning Australia as a global leader in green energy,” she said.
The Climate Council welcomed the federal approval, noting that it would facilitate Australia’s shift away from coal-fired power.
“The SunCable project highlights the cleaner energy grid we’re building … and represents a bold move in harnessing solar power to make Australia a clean energy powerhouse,” said Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie, according to National Indigenous Times. “Major projects like SunCable will continue to drive the rise of solar and wind, providing affordable energy and reducing climate pollution.”
TANZANIA: Maasai protest forced eviction
On the morning of Aug. 18, thousands of Indigenous Maasai people blocked the road leading to Tanzania’s prominent tourist site, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in a demonstration against their forced eviction from ancestral land and the denial of their basic rights. During the protest, 15 individuals were arrested, Mongabay reported on Aug. 20.
The Maasai people have legal rights to their land in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. However, in 1992, the Tanzanian government granted exclusive hunting rights to the Otterlo Business Corporation and later sold lease rights to the company without obtaining consent from the Maasai. The corporation, strongly influenced by the royal family of the United Arab Emirates, established a wildlife corridor for trophy hunting and elite safari tourism, disregarding the Maasai’s rights.
The Maasai were viewed as obstacles to wealthy foreigners eager to hunt and build exclusive resorts, explained Brian Keane, director of Land is Life, an Indigenous advocacy organization in the U.S., during a phone interview with Mongabay. To eliminate these so-called obstacles, security forces and government officials violently evicted thousands of Maasai from their ancestral lands. Under the pretext of conservation, thousands of Maasai homes were destroyed, many of them set ablaze. The Maasai were denied access to water and grazing land for their cattle. According to a report by the Oakland Institute, an estimated 20,000 Maasai were left homeless. Essential services such as education, healthcare and water were cut off, and recently, Maasai who remain in the area have been denied the right to vote, Keane said.
The government offered the Maasai relocation 800 kilometers (500 miles) away, but the new location came with a lifestyle completely alien to them. A local leader, who spoke to Mongabay on condition of anonymity, noted that several individuals who moved to the new community died in car accidents due to their unfamiliarity with roadways. Many Maasai chose to return to their homeland to continue fighting for their rights.
In an Aug. 7 press release, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s regional director for East and Southern Africa, condemned the evictions, pointing out that they were conducted under the guise of conservation while OBC was involved in illegal trophy hunting, violating Tanzania’s wildlife conservation laws.
The local leader revealed that foreign hunters used semiautomatic weapons to indiscriminately kill wildlife, including “thousands and thousands of birds.” They emphasized that Maasai herders have long been responsible stewards of the land, living in harmony with the wildlife.
A day after the protest, the Maasai reopened the road but gave the government a three-day deadline to respond to their demands. They are calling for the recognition of their right to live on their ancestral land and the restoration of essential services, including the right to vote.
The local leader highlighted the deep connection the Maasai have with their land, saying they cannot leave it. “Their ancestors are buried on that particular land. Traditionally, you are not allowed to leave your ancestors behind. The Maasai believe that if you bury someone on the land, their spirit remains, and you have a responsibility to your family to care for them and protect that land.”
CHINA: Seven Uyghur brothers jailed
Seven brothers from a prominent Uyghur family in Kashgar were sentenced to 9-17 years for charitable work and overseas trips, amid the mass incarceration campaign against Uyghurs since 2017, Radio Free Asia reported on Aug. 19.
The Obulqasim brothers – Abdusalam, 45; Abduhelil, 47; Mametsidiq, 49; Yusupjan, 51; Memmettursun, 54; Pazil, 56; and Sabir, 62 – were successful businessmen in construction materials, electrical appliances, and other trades. They were detained and imprisoned during the mass arrests of Uyghurs and are currently serving sentences in prisons in Kashgar and Urumqi, according to sources.
“They are one of the richest families in Kashgar,” said Abduweli Ayup, founder of Uyghur Hjelp, a Norway-based nonprofit documenting Uyghurs’ arrests and imprisonments. Ayup confirmed through his network that all seven brothers were jailed.
The brothers are part of the estimated 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims detained on flimsy charges since mass detentions began over seven years ago. The Chinese government has targeted businesspeople, clerics, intellectuals, and those who had traveled abroad or taught the Quran to children under the guise of combating separatism and terrorism.
Despite initially encouraging Uyghurs to obtain passports after 2010 due to international pressure, Chinese authorities later considered those who did so as suspicious. These individuals were subsequently detained in camps and prisons.
The brothers’ father, Obulqasim, now deceased, initially sold and repaired watches in Kashgar. His sons later expanded into various businesses, including the Aq Orda Trade Center, selling construction materials and electrical appliances. Pazil further grew the family business into cargo shipping, establishing a presence in Central Asia and Turkey. The family was also involved in the hotel industry.
In May 2019, the brothers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine to 17 years, according to a security guard from Kashgar Prison. Five of the brothers, including Abduhelil and Pazil, are serving their sentences in Kashgar Prison, while the other two are in Urumqi.
Pazil and Yusupjan were accused of “supporting Uyghurs” through charitable work, while the other brothers were charged with traveling abroad or displaying “ethnic hatred and discrimination” against Han Chinese. Their arrests came at a time when many Uyghur businessmen were targeted for their charitable activities, Ayup noted.
The brothers were known for helping other Uyghurs secure jobs, supporting orphans and the poor, and contributing to children’s education. Their financial assistance to expatriate Uyghurs during business operations was later labeled as “supporting” Uyghurs, according to sources.
Another brother, Abduhelil, a filmmaker, and entrepreneur, was first arrested in October 2017 for promoting Uyghur culture in his films. After being held in pretrial detention and sent to a “re-education” camp, he was released in December 2019. However, he was rearrested in September 2023 for “inciting separatism” and is now serving a 15-year sentence in Kashgar Prison.
NEW ZEALAND: Thousands missing bowel cancer screening
Thousands of New Zealanders missed proper bowel cancer screening over a decade, with over 7,000 eligible individuals failing due to test errors or incomplete procedures, Radio New Zealand reported on Aug. 23.
A study found that deprivation significantly contributed to people failing to complete bowel cancer tests. Study author Chey Dearing from the Eastern Institute of Technology highlighted that Māori, Asian and Pacific individuals were more likely to miss out, but they weren’t alone.
“Males, compared with females, were more likely to attempt but fail,” Dearing said. Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second-leading cause of cancer death in New Zealand, after lung cancer. Around 3,000 new cases are diagnosed annually, with an increasing rate among those under 50.
The study analyzed data from the New Zealand National Bowel Screening Program between 2012 and 2022. Out of 569,665 participants, 7,126 (1.26 percent) failed to complete the test due to issues like unsigned consent forms, missing barcodes, insufficient samples, and expired kits. Although those who submitted faulty kits were sent replacements, some failed to respond or submitted another faulty kit.
The response rate improved between 2012 and 2016 but worsened over the following five years. Dearing suggested simple solutions, such as a drop-off service in culturally appropriate locations like marae, to help high-deprivation individuals complete the test.
The analysis was published in the latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal. Two years ago, the Labor government announced $36 million in funding to lower the starting age for bowel screening for Māori and Pasifika people from 60 to 50. However, the rollout has stalled, with the new government stating in July that it was under evaluation.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are about the renewable energy project of the Northern Territory, recognized as one of the world’s largest solar developments, it comes at a crucial time for both the Northern Territory and Indigenous communities.
As the world faces increasing pressure to transition to sustainable energy sources, this project not only aligns with global environmental goals but also positions the Northern Territory as a leader in renewable energy innovation. The timing is significant as it coincides with growing awareness and respect for Indigenous land rights, ensuring that these communities are key stakeholders in the project’s development.
For the Northern Territory, this project represents a major economic and environmental milestone. It has the potential to generate substantial employment opportunities, particularly for local and Indigenous populations, and to contribute to long-term economic growth in the region. The project also underscores a commitment to reducing carbon emissions, a critical step in addressing climate change.
By involving Indigenous communities in land-use agreements, the project honors the cultural significance of the land, ensuring that development is done respectfully and with the consent of traditional landowners.
This project serves as a model for other territories and regions considering large-scale renewable energy initiatives. It demonstrates the importance of integrating Indigenous perspectives and securing their participation in such developments.
By borrowing a leaf from this approach, other territories can ensure that their projects are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially responsible, fostering stronger relationships with Indigenous communities and contributing to more equitable outcomes.
Overall, this solar project highlights how forward-thinking, inclusive planning can yield significant benefits for all parties involved and sets a standard for future renewable energy initiatives globally.
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