Let's #changethedate

In the past I've really enjoyed celebrating Australia Day.

I considered it a day to celebrate everything that was wonderful about being Australian, the diversity of our people, places, food, music and lifestyle.

But this year, on this day, I don't feel like celebrating. Instead I feel the need to acknowledge the acute pain that this day holds for our indigenous peoples. This day marks more than two centuries of awful atrocities carried out against Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders by generations of white australia. To me, it should rightfully be a day of respectful acknowledgment of their pain.

 

The other reason for not wanting to celebrate is the immense shame and disgust I feel about our government and the Australian public who support its policies.

It revolts me that Australia wilfully commits human rights abuses against refugees, particularly in the offshore detention centres on Manus and Nauru.

It dismays me the how the government not only ignores the epidemic of domestic violence in this country, but has slashed funding to the organisations who support these victims.

It angers me that the government steadfastly refuses to act on climate change and instead, cuts renewable energy funding and directs those funds straight into the pockets of the biggest polluters.

It embarrasses me that our Prime Minister's daily gaffes are farcical at best and completely bloody humiliating and bizarre at worst, who in the world can take Australia seriously anymore? There are days when I have to work really hard at not getting depressed about the failures of our country.

Ultimately, I think I have faith that the population of intelligent, compassionate and innovative Australians will far outnumber both the elitist, self-serving right wing and the ignorant, racist "fuck off we're full" bogans of this land...and eventually, our nation will flourish as a society again.

We do need an Australia Day to mark everything that is brilliant about our country because despite the faults, there is much that is worth celebrating.

I just don't think it should be the date that commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet. Let's #changethedate and make the 26th of January a day to acknowledge the devastation that Indigenous Australians have suffered since white settlement.

xx Em

 

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Bust the Budget

 

 

Dear World,

 

Just want you to know how deeply ashamed I am of Australia's current government. I did not vote for Tony Abbott and deeply regret that so many apathetic, ignorant Aussies happily bought into his three word slogans during the election campaign last year to put him in power.

Some have since regretted doing so, most won't admit to it.

 

I am deeply ashamed at the horrific physical and mental harm that our Government is inflicting on the men, women and children who have sought our help and protection as asylum seekers. I am outraged by the sheer arrogance of Immigration Minister Scott Morrison who refuses to keep the Australian public informed and thinks that decent Australians won't question his militaristic approach to this Humanitarian problem. I have one word Morrison...REFOULEMENT!

 

I despair at the bone headed ignorance of this Government as it continues to deny the scientific evidence and economic impact of Climate Change. It disgusts me that a Government so openly tied to the coal industry has the power to send our country backwards when it comes to the Renewable Energy sector. It flies in the face of reason to deny the fact that in a country such as ours, renewables like wind and solar are the most abundant environmental and cost effective energy choices. And despite Abbott's fear mongering claims, the carbon tax has actually done its job in reducing emissions. It angers me that they just don't care about the devastating impact that their choices have on my children's future, let alone their own children and grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

I am sorry that all of the great things about our country, like our universal health and education systems, science and research community and welfare safety nets are being attacked and eroded by extreme right wing ideologues. And for whose benefit? Certainly not the vast Australian population. Certainly not for economic prosperity and certainly not for those most affected by the budget cuts and policy changes.

 

It embarrasses me that our nations leaders are so blatantly...well....stupid. They prove daily that they are bereft of intelligence, logic & common decency. Qualities I would have thought vital when governing a nation. It shames me that Abbott and Co. govern by inarticulate deceit, denial and smug self interest.

 

 

And so, World, I will continue to get off my ass and get out into the streets to protest alongside thousands of other concerned Aussies in rallies like last Sunday's Bust the Budget, until enough of Australia wakes up from its apathetic slumber. When it does, we can kick this hideous mob out, apply critical thinking to our democracy and demand a better standard of Government.

 

 

 

 

 

We want you to know World, that we really are better than this.

Not all of us are ignorant, racist, redneck bogans.

xx Em

 

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