An Aboriginal community in southwest Queensland, Australia, has filed an appeal with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples. The Mithaka people claim the state government violated international law by failing to consult the group before removing protective status for certain rivers in order to open the region to shale oil exploration. The group fears hydraulic fracturing will threaten rights to their traditional culture, which is closely associated with the area's waterways. The government asserts that the decision was made with input from all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, and stemmed from a desire for economic growth among residents. For the full story, see http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/04/queensland-indigenous-group-appeals-united-nations-mining-land.