eco otaku

Few would argue that Australia’s great icon is Ayers Rock, better know as Uluru. The rock is uniquely formed and is made up of the Australian sandstone arid red soil. It is located about 300 kilometers north of Alice Springs in central Australia. Many would say its the heart of Australia. Its reaches as high as 318 metres (986ft), which is enough to make it reach higher than Tokyo tower. It attracts over 400,000 people every year who wish to visit the rock.

The name Uluru translates to something like island mountain, referring to the flat ground expansion around the base giving the rock a feel that its an island. For the traditional owners, Uluru is a spiritual place of great importance for their beliefs. While different clans have their different dreamtime stories, a book by Robert Laytons (1989), Uluru: An Aboriginal Historyof Ayers Rock reads;

“Uluru, (Ayers Rock) was built up during the creation period by two boys who played in the mud after rain. When they had finished their game they travelled south to Wiputa… Fighting together the two boys made their way to table topped Mount Conner, on top of which their bodies are preserved as boulders”

In 1985, the then Prime Minister Bob Hawk returned ownership of Uluru to the traditional owners on the condition that the National Park where the Rock remained would be leased back to the government for another 50 years. However, when the agreement was returned to the Pitjantjatjara, the people of Uluru, the lease had been changed to a 99 year lease. Sneaky politics!

Currently, against the wishes of the traditional owners of Uluru, the government allows tourists to climb the rock. There are two reasons why the local owners feel this way about the climb. The first being that the climbing track allows people to pass a sacred place of dreamtime. Secondly, there has been as many as 35 deaths as people climb Uluru and many more suffer heart problems as they make their way to the top. The Aboriginal people feel great sadness for the people who die in such a sacred area.

While Australians would be aware, many people living overseas would be unaware that the current labour government are reconsidering changing the lease details and considering banning climbing on the rock. The descion has been left to the once activists rocker turned politian, Peter Garett. Australians seem to be split on the desicion, however the point has been made by Vince Forrester (a tradional owner),

“You cant go climb on top of the Vatican, you cant go climb on the buddist temples, and so on and so forth“

Personally I find it hard to believe that anybody could not support the campaign for the closure of the climb. Its about respect for the traditional owners of Australia. Only a 1/4 of the tourists that visit the rock actually decide to make the climb, with most choosing to respect the views of the traditional owners.

If the ban is imposed, I find it hard to believe that it would make a difference to tourism figures. I myself would like to visit Uluru one day, but I dont see an the appeal of the climb.

- I found a facebook group that supports banning the climb! Join!