Drops of Jupiter

progressiveauspol:

While the situation in the NT is dire with high level of alcoholism, low literacy levels and high level of domestic violence its obvious that the current NT Intervention is not working. Since its implementation the situation has only got worse with suicide and self harm rates doubling, school attendance rates dropping and Aboriginal health continuing to lag. Worst of all it continues the paternalistic attitudes that continue to disenfranchise the Indigenous population.

We were made to feel like criminals in our own lands. We lost all control over our lives.
- Dhalulu Ganambarr-Stubbs of the Yolngu people.

With all this in mind the government wants to extend the bill placing our relations with the Aboriginal population back even further. Former Liberal Minister Malcolm Fraser labelled it ‘old fashioned white paternalism at its worse’. Stand for Freedom is currently undertaking a petition to put pressure on politicians to reject this. With Labor’s hold on power so precarious political pressure has greater value than ever so please take the time to sign it and feel free to share it with friends on facebook and twitter. Any action to improve the plight of Aboriginies must not come from the government but rather needs a community based approach that empowers the Aboriginal community and restore the dignity that is being violated yet again. The link again:

http://www.change.org/petitions/australian-government-stop-stronger-futures-and-support-aboriginal-self-determination-in-the-nt

(via strange-and-amazing)