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General Climbing Discussion

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Grampians Access 19-Feb-2019 At 8:37:11 AM One Day Hero

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On 18-Feb-2019 gremlin wrote:
>After the announcement by Victorian Cliffcare on the 16th February 2019
>of the plan to protest the closure of 8 crags to climbing, i have put my
>own personal thoughts below in how this affects indigenous people in Gariwerd
>(and worldwide). I’m particularly concerned about the continuation of the
>cultural genocide of indigenous people, their voices and their rights,
>as their culture is considered iconic of Gariwerd.
>
>Gariwerd contains Victoria’s most significant and oldest indigenous rock
>art and sacred sites. The quality of the natural environment has given
>it world famous status. Images of blackfullas have featured international
>in calendars, videos, magazines and of course social media.
>
>Gariwerd’s caves are like nothing else on earth, and there are several
>individual rock art pieces that stand out as classics among the worlds
>cave painting community. The individual pieces are the reason indigenous
>people save for years to travel to Gariwerd and are the basis for the reason
>they stay. Many of these art galleries are located in the areas that have
>been banned.
>
>It’s important to note that one gallery area is not comparable to another,
>they are not interchangeable, especially when it comes to cave areas. Indigenous
>people travel thousands of kilometers to Gariwerd to experience the physical
>and mental challenge of artworks across ceilings of pocketed rock. Closing
>a cave and expecting indigenous people to move elsewhere is equivalent
>to a cultural genocidal marathon. The appeal of Gariwerd is it’s uniqueness.
>On a more practical side, a cave also offers all weather protection against
>the rain and sun, a key benefit for indigenous people all year round. This
>protection is a lifeline to indigenous travellers who are staying in the
>region for extended periods - most out-of-state indigenous people several
>weeks, if not months in the area when on an indigenous holiday (spending
>money in the region whilst doing so).
>
>It is also important to note that indigenous people are not deliberately
>targeting modern climbing sites for vandalism. The couple of incidents
>made public recently were accidental damage to climbing sites unknown to
>the public. They were a tiny fraction of the thousands of indigenous people
>and sacred sites that exist in Gariwerd on a yearly basis without controversy.
>Indigneous existence has occurred in Gariwerd for more than 50,000 years
>as a valid recreational pursuit and it should be possible for this to continue
>within the right management plant and cooperation of climbers.
>
>What can we do? The Bundja Bundja A&TSI Corp has taken on the mammoth
>task of reversing these bans and trying to halt further bans. They need
>your support (and money). Please help AND SHARE THIS!
>
>The following is the list of banned areas and notes about each area.
>
>THE GALLEY
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being infringed upon upon here,
>minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>BILLYWING BUTTRESS & BILLIMNA AREA
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being totally infringed upon
>here, minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>MILLENNIUM CAVES
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being totally infringed upon
>here, minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>CAVE OF MAN HANDS
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being totally infringed upon
>here, minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>LITTLE HANDS CAVE
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being totally infringed upon
>here, minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>GONDWANALAND
>Insert dominate white, status-quo yet slight progressive, pro-env, but
>male, capitalist, egotistical, justifiable, centrist creep, i didn’t start
>the fire, it’s out of sight, i was totes ignorant of reality, history has
>ended, but mah middle class priv rights are being totally infringed upon
>here, minimal someone else do it efforts, type excuse here.
>
>… we have some of the oldest artwork in human history in a cage to prevent
>people from vandalising it and you’re bitching you can’t climb over the
>bits not inside the cage which aren’t in direct sight of the general public.
>
>
>Despite the books you read, the memes you like, and how progressive you
>think you are, you are white privilege and the direct oppressor of indigenous
>people.

This isn't garden variety heckling. I may not agree with you on all the fine details, but I have a lot of professional respect for your sledging.