"In 1987, a sensational "discovery" was made by a Sydney University team, led by Australia's most celebrated pre-historian, Professor D J Mulvaney. They reported that the Australian population in 1788 was 750,000, or three times the previous estimate. They concluded that more than 600,000 people had died as result of white settlement."John Pilger, July 10, 2000.
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I am extremely pissed and riled about Prime Minister John Howard's plan to re-re-colonize the Aboriginals of the Northern Territory. He is calling this racist
land-grab a "national emergency".
Damn, the "national-emergency" is contained in the
John Pilger quote above.
For those of you who need to catch-up or need a concise restatement of what Howard is doing, see this article Eugene found in the: International Herald Tribune.
Where is the outcry hey? Is this not a gross violation of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights?
What about the UN Aboriginal Rights Declaration?
Oh yeah ... when it was timidly passed last year in Geneva, the governments of Australia, New Zealand, and the US opposed it. This they boldly did even though they were not members of the UN Human Rights Council. Now are you really surprised?
Canada, that 'great' democracy above, refused to sign the Declaration! And so did Russia. Huh?
So, I also looked at the Human Rights Watch website and came away with nothing, nada, niks. Do they even know about this? I'm being sarcastic of course ... no really.
OK, so holla back with information you have.
In the meantime read this other excellent John Pilger article: :"Days of Mourning in a Secret Australia: The shameful treatment of Australian aboriginals". February 19, 2007.
**Update** 8:53pm PT
Several news reports say that Aboriginal elders have responded to Howard's plan by threatening a tourist access ban to Uluṟu.
Uluṟu, above, is a World Heritage Site owned by the Anangu Aborigines of the Northern Territory.
How about a movement that calls for an international tourist boycott of Australia if Howard does not stop his racist plan?
Any thoughts?
7 comments:
Tourist boycott? Are you kidding? Who are the tourists? And who are aborigines to them?
Hi Jubin George:
I am not kidding brother.
Economic sanctions was an effective strategy against South Africa in the 80s.
Australia has a huge tourism industry. It can be made vulnerable to a call for staying away ... especially if the gross human rights violations are highlighted.
Australia must be made to look like the human rights pariah that it is.
Such bad publicity is likely to have an adverse effect. A high profile campaign here in the US would not look good for them hey.
So I think it is a viable strategy to think through on behalf of progressive movements.
It would aslo tie in with what traditional leaders have began.
Solidarity on an international scale.
But your questions are valid nontheless. And they point to a recognition that most folks, particularly those in the West, just don't give a damn.
A shame for real. They should!
Be well and thanks for weighing in my brother.
Peace and struggle,
Ridwan
A boycott is worth the effort. But I also agree with you, the west just doesn't give a damn. It doesn't threaten their privilege.
I was relieved to see you wrote on this. When I read about it a few days ago on the BBC it made me sick to my stomach. Who are they fooling (it's scary because...well, lots of people!). Thanks for the post.
A boycott might not have to go very far in order to get some response. Tourism (say big hotels) doesn't adjust well to even small decreases in customers. A few percent can be bad news.
Just a credible move toward their wallets might turn them into big supporters of indigenous rights. For a little while.
Tom you are absolutely right. I really think that folks will be digusted enough to make a pledge about visiting Australia.
If I judge by my email inbox, well I'd say we are off to a good start brother.
Peace
Ridwan
Hey Chelsea:
Is it not just f#cked?
Good to hear you out there.
Be well little sister.
Ridwan
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