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Sorry Politics and Rogue's Birthday
Feb. 19th, 2008 06:04 pmIt was a long time coming, but the Federal Australian government has finally apologised for the Stolen Generations, one of the three main recommendations of the "Bringing Them Home" report initiated in 1995 and completed in 1997. News of the action was reported worldwide; Al Jazeera, the BBC World Service, front page news on The Hindu, The New York Times, Libération, The People's Daily, Pravda...
::rising fury::
The consequences of loss of sovereignty, land theft, unpaid wages, and the stolen generation, are the primary causes of indigenous impoverishment today. Aboriginal people have a life expectancy of under 60 years, 25% less than average. The rate of rheumatic heart disease is 5-10 times the national average and responsible for 1/4 of all deaths. They suffer 4 times the average incidence of Type II diabetes, 8 times the level of kidney disease, 5 times the level of drug-induced mental disorders, 20 times the level of chlamydia infection and 20 times the level of gonoccocal infections. Less than 40% of aboriginal Australians complete year 12, compared to the national average of 75%. Only 22% have vocational or higher education qualifications compared to the average 48%. A mere 4% have a bachelor's degree, compared to the average 21%. Aboriginals are 11 times more likely to be in prison and make up 1/5 of Australia's prison population. They are twice as likely to be victims of violence, they have 3 times the national unemployment rate, they are 6 times more likely to be homeless and 15 times more likely to live in improvised dwellings.
In this context, I felt quite angy with Tony Abbot's comments that the government was incompetent because it had been consulting for "weeks if not months". Or the comments of the National's leader Warren Truss that it was "trite" and "lacked substance" - and when the question of substance, that is financial compensation, was raised, Liberal leader Brendan Nelson claimed that there should be no financial compensation because no fund could erase the pain. Yeah, but some compensation could erase some pain. No wonder he's at 9% as preferred Prime Minister.
::deep breath::
In more personal news, Rogue the rat had his third birthday on Valentine's Day and went to one the local pizza/pasta establishments who don't mind his presence (outside, of course). He received a serve of King Island chocolate mousse which he thoroughly enjoyed. According to the Rat Behaviour site, this puts Rogue at 90, and recalculates our other lads at 69 for Vagabond at his passing, 72.5 for Harlequin, and 82.5 for Monte. A clever scientist explains in simple terms why one should be pro-rat.
::rising fury::
The consequences of loss of sovereignty, land theft, unpaid wages, and the stolen generation, are the primary causes of indigenous impoverishment today. Aboriginal people have a life expectancy of under 60 years, 25% less than average. The rate of rheumatic heart disease is 5-10 times the national average and responsible for 1/4 of all deaths. They suffer 4 times the average incidence of Type II diabetes, 8 times the level of kidney disease, 5 times the level of drug-induced mental disorders, 20 times the level of chlamydia infection and 20 times the level of gonoccocal infections. Less than 40% of aboriginal Australians complete year 12, compared to the national average of 75%. Only 22% have vocational or higher education qualifications compared to the average 48%. A mere 4% have a bachelor's degree, compared to the average 21%. Aboriginals are 11 times more likely to be in prison and make up 1/5 of Australia's prison population. They are twice as likely to be victims of violence, they have 3 times the national unemployment rate, they are 6 times more likely to be homeless and 15 times more likely to live in improvised dwellings.
In this context, I felt quite angy with Tony Abbot's comments that the government was incompetent because it had been consulting for "weeks if not months". Or the comments of the National's leader Warren Truss that it was "trite" and "lacked substance" - and when the question of substance, that is financial compensation, was raised, Liberal leader Brendan Nelson claimed that there should be no financial compensation because no fund could erase the pain. Yeah, but some compensation could erase some pain. No wonder he's at 9% as preferred Prime Minister.
::deep breath::
In more personal news, Rogue the rat had his third birthday on Valentine's Day and went to one the local pizza/pasta establishments who don't mind his presence (outside, of course). He received a serve of King Island chocolate mousse which he thoroughly enjoyed. According to the Rat Behaviour site, this puts Rogue at 90, and recalculates our other lads at 69 for Vagabond at his passing, 72.5 for Harlequin, and 82.5 for Monte. A clever scientist explains in simple terms why one should be pro-rat.
