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Welcome. Friends of Australian Rock Art (FARA) raises awareness about the Burrup Peninsula, Australia's largest cultural monument, an Aboriginal sacred site. FARA asks people around the world to literally stand up at places of cultural significance in their country, wearing T-shirts spelling out the slogan "Stand Up For The Burrup".


Presentation

Western Australia´s Burrup Peninsula is the world's largest outdoor rock engraving site, containing rock art of world importance possibly dating back to 30,000 years ago, including possibly the first ever representation of the human face in history. The Western Australian Government is still planning to turn part of this site into a natural gas production and processing facility against the wishes of some of the site`s Aboriginal custodians and the scientific community.

See pictures of some rock art 

Listen to some of the Burrup experts 



Stand up per country

Australia 100
Bulgaria 1
France 43
Cambodia 1
England 9
Egypt 1
Germany 8
Israel 1
USA 7
Japan 1
Netherlands 4
Madagascar 1
Spain 4
Mauritius 1
Switzerland 4
Mid-Atlantic 1
Canada 3
Near Antarctica 1
Greece 3
New Zealand 1
India 3
Poland 1
Italy 3
Portugal 1
Nepal 3
Romania 1
Belgium 2
Russia 1
Brazil 2
Saint Lucia 1
China 2
Saint Vincent 1
Turkey 2
Singapore 1
Austria 1
South Africa 1
Barbados 1
Vietnam 1

 
Latest News
Burrup Tour 2011 29/8/2010
More than $3,500 raised in 100 Days 1/5/2010
100 Climbs in 100 Days - for the Burrup 29/12/2009
Andy Glandt's new album supporting FARA 15/5/2009
The Australian: Culture Clash 14/3/2009
Environs Kimberley and FARA reject Browse to Burrup 5/1/2009
Celebration of 2 years of campaign 20/12/2008
FARA’s 2009 Burrup Heritage Calendar 12/12/2008
Australia destroys its own Stonehenge 25/10/2008
Barnett calls for relocation of industry off the Burrup 11/8/2008
Xavier Rudd's Stand Up 21/7/2008
World Archaeology Congress calls on Burrup destruction to stop 14/7/2008
Wong-Goo-Tt-Oo says no more rock art movement 28/6/2008
Shoulder to shoulder with the opposition! 8/6/2008
Varanus explosion points to continued Burrup folly 4/6/2008
Giant $1billion methanol plant back to the Burrup 17/5/2008
Through an article less than 40 words in the Pilbara News , dated 14th May 2008, Methanex announced that it was coming back to construct on the Burrup. In 2003 the Methanex Corporation of Canada reported that site costs was the reason not to proceed with the project in Western Australia. The corporation therefore moved its planned location from the Burrup Peninsula to Darwin (Northern Territory). Methanex's massive $1billion methanol processing plant project had received environmental approvals in February 2003 and was to be located opposite the Paterson's Valley petroglyph complex, Hearsons Cove, Burrup Peninsula. Emission loads in 2003 from this plant were estimated to be around 359 kg/hr nitrogen oxide and 2.25 Mtpa of carbon dioxide. In 2003 it was anticipated that this giant plant would consist of two nominal 6,000 tonnes per day methanol plants, two air separation units, methanol storage of 220,000 tonnes, a desalination plant as well as transport systems for raw materials, products to and from the plant site and ship loading operations at Dampier Port on the Burrup Peninsula.
Explosives plant for the Burrup 15/5/2008
Pankaj Oswal of Burrup Fertilisers announced on the 13th May 2008 that he had formed a joint venture with Yara International ASA of Norway to create a company called Burrup Nitrates (BNPL) whose purpose is to build an explosives plant next to the current Burrup Fertilisers plant. Mr Oswal or his wife would be horrified if industry started destroying the Hindu Gardens of Vrindaban, the Taj Mahal or the temple city of Vishnupur. In Vishnupur, protection of the Pancha Ratna and Jor Bangla temples (approximately 400 year old) is being sought as they are exposed to airborne pollution coming from three hundred kilometres away. Yet here in Australia Mr Oswal is proposing to build an explosives factory, with all the attendant pollution less than a kilometre from some of the world’s oldest petroglyphs and culture, possibly 30,000 years in age.
Burrup Vandalism Escalates 28/4/2008
Australian Financial Review articles 1/3/2008
FARA meets Heritage Minister Garrett 31/1/2008
B-Day 18/11/2007
Turnbull artfully dodges Burrup heritage decision 4/11/2007
Green light for Pluto 13/10/2007
Turnbull go-ahead for Woodside's Pluto 12/10/2007
Stop cultural vandalism 28/9/2007
Advertisement campaign continues 28/9/2007
Write to Malcolm Turnbull 26/9/2007
Burrup heritage mess won’t go away 7/9/2007
T.O. seeks injunction against Woodside 4/9/2007
3rd Stand Up target surpassed 21/8/2007
FARA Bulletin 1, July/August 2007 17/8/2007
Heritage Listing - Woodside must go 3/7/2007
FARA criticises Woodside 27/6/2007
Canberra Stand Up II 20/6/2007
WA government [...] vandals - again 6/6/2007
Former PM supports FARA 3/6/2007
13% of Burrup rock art destroyed 25/5/2007



 


Stand up with us


  
Other actions in preparation: Timetable  


Latest actions


Mob 0223 Australia (WA) 28/7/2010
Cossack
Mob 0222 Australia (WA) 26/7/2010
Burrup, Patterson's Valley
This Stand Up took place on the actual Burrup Peninsula during FARA's 4th annual trip in July 2010 to discover the wonders of the ancient rock art. The participants were anxious that Colin Barnett (Premier of Western Australia) was reminded of his election promise to save the precious petroglyphs from further desecration by prohibiting further industrial leases on the Burrup Peninsula... Was it just an expedient/empty political promise?
Mob 0221 Australia (WA) 17/4/2010
WA Greens Conference


Mob 0220 Australia (WA) 14/3/2010
East Perth - City Farm, Save the Faeries Festival


Mob 0219 Germany (Thuringia) 6/6/2009
Moenchenholzhausen - Moenchskrug
This was the first Festival of Music and Arts in the little village of Moenchenholzhausen in Germany. It was organized by local people and organisations in cooperation with the European House of Arts.
The aim was to bring European artists of different genres together. There was an exhibition of paintings, programs for children, an Irish dance workshop and lots of music. Artists came from Ireland, Poland, Italy and Germany.
During the festival this Stand Up for the Burrup action was held. Andy Glandt sang two songs (“Murujuga” and “She Doesn’t Know”) from his new album called Murujuga. A portion of the proceeds raised from the sale of the CD will be donated to FARA (which is the body active in protecting from further destruction by industry of the Aboriginal Rock Art at the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia)
Mob 0218 Australia (WA) 29/3/2009
Perth - Hazelmere, Men Of The Trees
This annual "Festival of the Trees" underlines the value of trees in Western Australia and how the vegetation counteracts land salinity.
The Wedge-tail Eagle, Australia`s largest bird of prey was part of a display to emphasise the need for the integration of fauna with that of other natural parts in the entire environment. This eagle was stolen from the nest at a very young age consequently `imprinting` to people rather than its own kind. Because of this it is unable to be released into the wild. It is registered to be a demonstration bird to show the magnificence of this species.
FARA (Friends of Australian Rock Art) was also at the festival raising awareness of cultural heritage in the form of the endangered rock art on the Burrup peninsula in the N-W of WA. The festival was able to show the integrated value of flora, fauna and culture in the Western Australian community.
Mob 0217 France (59) 21/3/2009
Lille - Grand Place de Lille
Although Lille is in France it is right on the Belgian border and in fact some of its suburbs spread into Belgium. Unlike most of France, and more like UK and Belgium many of its buildings are built of red brick.
The main town square where this Stand Up occurred is surrounded by grand buildings which in turn surround the statue of the goddess Deesse commemorating the Siege of Lille in 1792. Locals call the square Grand’Place, but it is also called Place du General de Gaulle (who was born in Lille).
Thank you to the concerned citizens and members of the CORROBOREE Association who have brought news of the plight of the treasured Rock Art of the Burrup Peninsular to the people of Lille.
Mob 0216 Australia (WA) 22/3/2009
East Perth - City Farm, Save the Faeries Festival
The Faeries Festival “celebrating environmentalism, community and faeries” is a community inspired celebration attracting awareness towards environmental conservation and regeneration. If we keep destroying the environment, faeries will have nowhere to live. Through focusing on nature, we can save the faeries.
An organic salad mix of colourful Perth musicians, roving faeries, street theatre, conservation workshops, hula hopping, wand making, face painting, vegetarian food, craft with recycled goods, market stalls, circus play, belly dancing, drumming, environmental groups sharing their information and plenty of room for toe tapping.
FARA held a stall at this annual event that is open to all ages, humans and faeries.
Mob 0215 Australia (WA) 6/3/2009
Perth - International Movie Festival, Buddha/Burrup Collapse Out of Shame
This group of cinephiles held a Stand Up at the University of Western Australia, during the Perth International Film Festival 2009. The movie showed that night was Hana Makhmalbaf’s “Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame”. It illustrates the destruction of a pair of massive 5th century Buddha carvings in Afghanistan by the Taliban, which gained international news coverage in 2001.
The UN was greatly involved in the attempt to halt the statues’ destruction. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met and had talks with Taliban’s "Foreign Minister" and over 7500 signatures were gathered from countries including the US, the UK and France.
Unfortunately, the destruction of the rock art of the Burrup Peninsula is not gaining the international attention it deserves to put sufficient pressure on the Governments to apply for World Heritage Listing. Will the Burrup collapse out of shame?
Mob 0214 Russia 20/2/2009
Novgorod Kremlin
Celebrating its 1,150th birthday this year, Novgorod is the oldest city of Russia. Novgorod was the cradle of Russian democracy and medieval centre of trades and crafts. It is now a fascinating and beautiful ancient city about 3 hours south-west of St. Petersburg, the "Venice of the North". Novgorod amazes visitors with the truly vast number of well-preserved buildings (mostly Churches) from the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries, including the stunning St. Sophia's Cathedral, which has been a working Church since 988.
This photo shows the ancient Kremlin walls where it is believed that "Ivan the Terrible" regularly ate at a restaurant, which still operates today, located in one of the turrets. The Kremlin walls also hold a Museum where you can view the famous birch-bark scrolls which give an insight into "Ivan the Terrible" and other fascinating Russian characters.
The young Russians in this photograph are Tourism students at the Pedagogical College of Novgorod State University and they are proud to be the first people in Russia to Stand Up for the Burrup. They would all love to visit our Burrup to view the ancient rocks which give an insight into the history of Australia.
Mob 0213 Australia (WA) 13/2/2009
Perth - Arirang Korean Restaurant
Friday 13 February 2009 was the first anniversary of the Australian Parliament's Apology to the Stolen Generations - tens of thousands of Aboriginal people who, between the 1920s and 1970s, were forcibly removed from their parents. The Apology was celebrated by Aboriginal people around Australia as a long-overdue acknowledgement of past injustices.
One the same day, FARA held a dinner in Perth to welcome Robert Bednarik, the Convenor of the International Federation of Rock Art Organisations (IFRAO) and Secretary of the Australian Rock Art Research Association (AURA). Robert was the non-Aboriginal person who "rediscovered" and began to document the rock art at Murujuga/The Burrup in the late 1960s. He has campaigned consistently for its preservation for 40 years.
FARA organised a dinner for Robert, who was in Perth to meet with Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett, to meet with the FARA committee and supporters.
Mob 0212 Nepal 20/2/2009
Lumbini
In the foothills of the Himalayas, in Nepal, lies the birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini. It is said that Buddha’s mother was travelling to her village in 642 BC, the birth was imminent, so she held the branches of a tree and gave birth to Buddha who walked immediately and said, “This is my final rebirth”. In 249 BC Emporer Ashoka built a pillar at the site – which over the years was forgotten. In 1895 the pillar was discovered by a German archaeologist, identified by his inscription and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As shown by this Stand Up, the world is becoming aware of the immense significance of the Rock Art of the Burrup Peninsula in Western Australia, and know that its conservation in large depends upon a World Heritage listing.
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