Thursday, February 14, 2008

We're sorry

Yesterday Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, made history by apologizing for the actions of past governments in relation to the treatment of indigenous Australians.

The historic event was telecast live, and in Adelaide it was shown on a big screen on the banks of the River Torrens to a large gathering of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

He tabled a motion in parliament apologizing to Australia's Indigenous peoples, particularly the Stolen Generations and their families and communities, for laws and policies which had 'inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.' The apology included a proposal for a policy commission to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in 'life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.' (Quote from http://www.acn.net.au/articles/sorry/)

6 comments:

Donna said...

How refreshing!!!

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

Indeed! And this post, on Saint Valentine's Day, is reaaly appropriate, as we should all spread Love and Friendship everywhere!!

Regarding your comment, Gordon: But of course a 20 plus hour flight is fun! You're on a plane heading to Down Under!!!!! Ah ah ah!!! Thanks for dropping by!

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

By the way, do you know what happened to the blog of Saint Malo? I can't open it!!!

Gordon said...

Clarice had the death of a family member and felt she could not continue her daily blog. She intends dropping by from time to time and is continuing her Eating Brittany blog.

Raquel Sabino Pereira said...

Oh dear... Oh my God... I'm so sorry. I'll go to that other blog. Thank you for the information.

Joy said...

Apart from the apology, what else does he have to offer the thousands of aborigines who suffered at the hands of their oppressors?

joy
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