Australia apology to Aborigines (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

The Australian government has made a formal apology for the past wrongs inflicted by successive governments on the indigenous Aboriginal population.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised in parliament in the capital, Canberra, for the laws and polices that inflicted "profound grief, suffering and loss".

Mr Rudd also singled out the "Stolen Generations" of thousands of children forcibly removed from their families.

On Tuesday, parliament began a new session with an Aboriginal welcome.

In a special ceremony in Members Hall, Aboriginal elder Matilda House handed a symbolic message stick to Mr Rudd and spoke of "the hope of a united nation through reconciliation".
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7241965.stm

[rpannier]

1. I was going to post on this but you beat me to it

I watched his speech on Asutralian Television today.
PM Rudd's speech was quite moving.

Most people are unaware that these forced removal policies went on into the 1970's.

It was a great speech.


on edit:
Recommend and a Heart

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Thanks for the heart! Just sharing good news I stumbled across.

Wish the US could get its own act together on native rights ... won't happen under Bu**sh** (:eyes: obviously).

:hi:

[loser_user]

2. I'm happy to hear that!

I read about this about a week ago.

If you ever get a chance to see a movie called “Rabbit Proof Fence”, don’t miss it. It's a story about the forced removal.