We are in the midst of a modern genocide, a full force civil rights movement that has gone overlooked not only on a global scale but also, more shockingly, at a local one here in Australia. It does not surprise me (though it’s a shame) that the international public is not aware of the great injustices being inflicted upon the indigenous people of Australia, as the world seems to leave Australia to its own corner of the globe. Rather more offensive is some of the non-indigenous Australian public’s lack of acknowledgment encapsulated in either bystander racism or blunt, obstinate racism. Also disturbing is Australia’s so-called democratic government that for the past three years has undermined their own English common laws put in place to protect Aboriginal (Yolngu) rights and culture through a mandate named the Northern Territory Emergency Response Intervention.
Not only that, but before and after going in with their proverbial guns blazing, the Northern Territory and Australian governments ignored the heavily recommended advice by the original proponents of the child safety report to consult the Aboriginal elders and communities and they did not look for consent for the measures they took. They disrespected the Yolngu people by seizing control and claiming them unfit to care for the well being of their own children (frighteningly recalling the “Lost Generation” when between 1910 and 1970, white Australians forcibly removed Yolngu children from their families to integrate them into white society).
Even though former PM Kevin Rudd made the leap to make the first apology from the government towards the Aborigines in 2009, he did not do anything to revoke the illegal underhanded Intervention. Whatever good intentions they had in terms of improving housing and health conditions in these communities has still yet to be seen. After 3 years and several hundred billion dollars of funding supposedly being put towards housing for Aboriginal communities, only 11 houses were built in all of the N.T. Communities are being bribed by the government, which is promising 50 homes if the people will lease their land back to the government for 99 years. Deplorable. Australia has a huge mining industry and an incredible amount of the world’s natural minerals come from the Northern Territory, which if the Intervention continues and the government keeps reclaiming land and relocating families, the government will no doubt drill baby drill. Sound familiar? I am overwhelmed by a deep pain, a deep aching rooted from my center and radiating to my fingers and toes, when I think about how much greed, how much hurt, how much complete disregard for the lives of other individuals certain people can wield.
In short, the Deckchair Cinema was beautiful, the film was incredibly powerful, and the people are amazing. See this film if you can, go to the website, do what you can to take action!
http://www.ourgeneration.org.au/