indigenous

What colonialism has perpetrated and the activists fighting back

NAIDOC Week!

I plan to head into town tomorrow for NAIDOC in the City in Hyde Park – the forecast is for a beautiful sunny day, so it should be especially joyous.

Signal Boost: women being prosecuted for retracting domestic violence allegations

From Destroy the Joint, a call for action at NSW state level: call upon the Attorney General Greg Smith to issue a direction to the NSW DPP under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to ensure that no one is prosecuted solely for retracting an allegation of domestic or sexual violence without the approval of a senior lawyer within the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Update: Attorney-General Greg Smith has made a statement that he has no plans to revise the existing laws relating to this matter. Now is the time to up the pressure.

National Cultural Policy launched

Yesterday, the Minister for the Arts unveiled Australia’s new National Cultural Policy.

“Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s 2013 national cultural policy, celebrates Australia’s strong, diverse and inclusive culture. It describes the essential role arts and culture play in the life of every Australian and how creativity is central to Australia’s economic and social success: a creative nation is a productive nation.”

Thoughts on Australia Day / Invasion Day

Wesley Enoch, Artistic Director of the Queensland Theatre Company, and always a wise voice from the Aboriginal community, wrote this about the significance of what we have chosen to commemorate today. I found it both insightful and moving, and (with his permission) wanted to share it:

Friday Hoyden: Sekai Holland

The current Zimbabwean Minister for Reconciliation, Healing and Integration has a long history with Australia, going back to her days as a university student. Sekai was here this week to accept the Sydney Peace prize, and give its associated lecture.