Ann: Notice of General Meeting/Proxy Form , page-26

Sorry asf

I wrote a long reply and it got lost when my internet connection fell out, which it does all the time here.

I have seen the Twiggy Forrest video- a lesson in how not to negotiate with TO's anywhere in my opinion. Maybe with that bloke it's the narcisism that goes with being a billionaire self proclaimed "genius". It's more or less Super Eurocentrism run amok in my opinion.

But I also think it's a reflection of an increasing dynamic re mining in Australia...because it's the powerhouse of the economy there seems to be a certain arrogance emerging, verging on hubris, that because a proposal is mining then it must be, by definition, "good" and that no questioning, protest or criticism should be aired, let alone accomodated.

I've been privvy to negotiations and consultation with both Gemco and GOT. I'd have to say that Gemco, in my opinion, have ceratinly raised their standards and cross-cultural awareness over the last decade, although at times they sometimes behave like the lessor rather than the leasee, and often adopt that attitude that they know what is best for the TO's. The real difficulty for them, in my opinion, is accepting that for the TO's, ultimately, it's cultural maintenance rather than money that does the talking.

Interestingly GOT didn't behave like that when I was present at the first meeting between them and the TO's in September 2010. They were very pleasant, even a little humble and very much, in my opinion, a victim of circumstances.

The process by which their EL's were granted was bungled, with the TO's, because of bungled process, not entering an objection re GOT's application. Additionally much of the TO's and Land Councils rhetoric in the public domain is very pro-development, but the fact is that even though they are, they seek opportunities for sustainable development that impinges minimally on the environment and not at all on their Cultural beliefs and practices.

In my opinion GR were genuinely surprised at the hostile reception they received from the TO's because of the circumstances I described immediately above. Unfortunately, rather than accepting the rebuff they generated media coverage and trotted out the old white activists hijacking the agenda chestnut. However, in my opinion, reality always catches up with spin and from around October last year, again in my opinion, the realities came crashing in...and they remain, a massive elephant in room, a herd of elephants that some, in my opinion, choose to neither see or hear. Although I sincerely believe that GOT themselves are completely aware of the situation and the challenges they confront...and I also am of the opinion that they're trying to do something about it.

Cheers asf (as I chuckle about that Twiggy Forrest video)