Language and Identity
Check out this very good (especially for a politician) article in the Sydney Morning Herald about Aboriginal languages.
I have often been asked about the difference between Aotearoa and Australia in terms of indigenous peoples and why it seems so much harder in Australia to organise against the colonialist oppressor.
The first answer I always give is language. In Aotearoa, tangata whenua have been able to begin to restore their culture primarily because there is the language to do it with.
The kohanga reo movement has been able to successfully revive the language in – now generations – of young people; Maori and Pakeha. Having one language has made this possible. Well, easier at least.
In Australia there is over 300 different languages. Not dialects but languages. It is very hard to support the education of these languages within a state school environment. And it would be equally hard to set up a language school movement like kohanga across Australia to support the learning of language in community.
But it’s not impossible. And it’s such an important thing to do. Considering how much Howard is spending on his NT Invasion I would much rather see that money invested in setting up language resources for young indigenous Australians.
Why is this so important? In Aotearoa, Maori is recognised as an official language. Government departments are obliged to have at least their name in te reo, and most will have bilingual versions of any public documents. There is a state funded national Maori language television station. There is a Maori language radio network across the country. And this is on top of the education that happens in schools where most schools of a decent size offer a full immersion stream.
The effect of this is that most New Zealanders are to an extent bilingual. I would say that even the most ignorant racist would be able to translate 20 basic words and phrases just because these words are in their face all the time.
We understand the world around us through language. It is how we can explain what we see, feel, touch and taste to our friends and family. It is how we share our perspectives of the world. Our kaupapa even.
So if the majority of Australians can’t even name more than a couple of aboriginal languages, how are they supposed to possibly understand any aboriginal worldviews?
I agree with Plibersek that from a linguistic point of view, Australia has a fascinating story. Yet this is a story that has been hidden from the people due to a political interest in white-washing HIStory. Because of course if people really knew what happened they would be more inclined to demand apologies and compensation.
But the real need for resources to be piled into funding language learning is for aboriginal people themselves. I will never forget the day at Camp Sovereignty hearing the story from one of the koori people there about the day that his kid started asking him questions about language and the complete heartbreak he felt trying to explain that he didn’t even know how to say hello in his own language.
There’s a world for that and it’s called genocide. When you deny a group of people the right to access their culture you are guilty of genocide.
Often I speak to Australians that understand there is injustice but struggle to see what they can do as non-indegenous Australians to support the end of colonisation. Other than protesting deaths in custody and Howards stupid bullshit, what positive things are there to support? If non-Indigenous Australians began to demand access to education resources for language for all Australians, then all Australians will benefit.
Of course this is not a magic bullet and there are many other things that urgently need to happen in this land, but it would be a bloody good start.
Saucy Monkey Takes on Cop and Wins
S.M.I.R.K. (Sock Monkey Insurgent Revolutionary Kabal) today stood in solidarity with APEC and G20 arrestees in one highly successful action.
The kabal attacked Victorian State Police in an (almost) successful attempt to de-arrest the protester arrested during the most recent G20 court case.
In total resistance to the apparent new laws against the use of tomato sauce in public, a member of SMIRK today took to the police officer involved in the G20 court arrest with tomato sauce.
Luckily I was on the spot to capture the humilated and red-faced copper as none of the corporate media deemed it important enough to report on.
SMIRK also heaped scorn on the blatant electioneering of Aussie Jules who today jumped on the saucy bandwaggon. “Typical of politicians to jump on the hard work of the people on the street!” said KABAL today. “Let’s see Jules and her sauce confront some coppers, then we might consider voting for her”.
In related news, KABAL denied reports that they were prepared to sell out and participate in the flawed electoral system.
Revealed Bush’s APEC Speech!
Who would’ve thought he’d have such a turn around in political views. Mind you after all of yesterdays fuck ups I’m guessing the man is on a drug bender.
Props Typing is not Activism
Monkey says Haere Atu Bush!
We had a successful demo on Collins Street today.
Travelled sustainably by public transport and managed to recruit a few people along the way to take photos of me on my big outing.
Arrived to find a shit load of cops, including four on horseback (they obviously don’t have the flu – unlike the Sydney cop horses!). And of course a bunch of demonstrators, with speeches well under way.
There was some seriously revolutionary thoughts in those speeches and we all got quite inspired. This is me listening intently
So I did my own little speech expressing the solidarity of the sock monkey movement in condemning the earthfucking colonialist imperialist oppressor.
Then we all decided that it was time to directly interfere with the activities of APEC and take the building. This is me conspiring, shhh…
Alas we didn’t have the numbers to take the building so had to resort to embarrassing cops instead. So we treated them like tourist landmarks. Here’s me posing with one now
So not quite at the same level as the Chaser crew (mad props to them and their legendary stunt!) but I’m just warming up. Next time there will be more of us!
Hard Core Needlers
I thought I was a pretty hard core crafter but after seeing this post at Craftzine I see I have a way to go. These seriously cool ladies are putting their love on their skin!
Then it turns out there’s heaps more out there!
I am sew inspired! I’m thinking a cross stitch tattoo isn’t too far away…
(sorry about the bad pun, I couldn’t help myself)
Monkeys Against APEC
For too long now us sock monkeys have been an ignored entity in the struggle against global capitalism. We have decided to stand up this APEC and demand an end to a world based on neo-conservative, neo-colonial domination of our people, planet and resources.
We do not believe in the farce that is democracy. We know that it is no longer one person one vote, rather one dollar one vote. And this blatant lobbyocracy is what drives us to the streets.
We know that the police and the military exist primarily to serve and protect the interests of the powerful and the rich. We are pleased and amused to see that at this APEC meeting the police have finally dropped the facade of upholding democracy. This has obviously been a farce for so long. We saw this at S11, we saw this at G20 and do doubt we will see it again this time around.
The police are violent at these demonstrations because they understand that this is the front line in the war against capitalism. This is the true site of conclict between the government and the people. Why else do they get free reign to violently oppress any citizen who gets in their way.
It’s clear that the police and security forces — in complicity with the state and corporate proponents of APEC, as well as sensationalist mainstream media — utilize a strategy of divide and rule. They distinguish between “good” and “bad” protesters to weaken social movements. You’re “good”, in the eyes of the police, if you comply with their protest pens and zones, and “bad” if you do not; you’re “good” if you limit opposition to electoral politics and lobbying, but “bad” if you reject parliamentary politics and parties, and privilege direct action; you’re “good” if you get permission from the police to protest, and “bad” if you refuse to talk to police on principle.
Our basis of unity, and our ongoing organizing, is rooted in both local and global social justice struggles. Thru many different groups, are actively involved with immigrant justice, anti-poverty, indigenous sovereignty, international solidarity, anti-oppression, worker’s rights, anti-war, prison justice, environmental and other movements and organisations, for many years. It is our day-to-day organizing work that brings us to mobilizing against APEC in Sydney.
We stand for a world based on peace, freedom and justice. We stand for communities that create a peaceful, vibrant sustainable world. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters around the world who resist state and corporate capitalism. And we stand in solidarity with all the other non-human animals and plants in demanding a clean planet for us all to share.
Black Bloc Monkeys in solidarity with Melbourne ACDC
Renegade Economics on 3CR
Check the new radio show that goes live on 3CR today, called the Renegade Economist. Real economic news that cuts through the lingo and lets you know what’s really going on.
A must listen for any activist, advocate, journalist or politician.
And 3CR streams live so no excuse if you’re not in Melbourne.
For more info check out the earthsharing website.
Yay!
Badge Mania
Some brilliant wonderful person loaned me their badge maker. This is about the closest to heaven I believe I have ever been.
These are all 35mm button badges made from a broken old 60s sewing book that I picked up second hand. And I’ve got tons more to make just need the time to colour them all in. And there’s a few I’ve made which haven’t made their way to the interwebby yet.
If you have a favourite old slogan you want on a badge, and would go well with a 60s woman (and is very short), I might custom one for you if you ask nicely enough.
If you HAVE to have any of these or want to see more, check my Mintd Store.
See ya Syd
I want to pay my biggest respects to the family and friends of Syd Jackson who passed away this evening. Syd is one of the most effective members of the Tino Rangatiratanga movement and is one of my heroes.
He will be sadly missed.
Howard Voodoo Dolls
Just in time for APEC…
Engineered and designed by the White Bread Mexican Production Universe to serve the Australian people with an outlet to take out their anger and frustration on the little man, each little pin prick makes the man squirm. The 100% handcrafted dolls are made from re-used linen and are stuffed with high quality furniture stuffing stuff. They come complete with a set of 40 multi-coloured pins and instruction manual. Packaged in recycled cardboard boxes with hand drawn design.
*As used by Michael Franti (Hippy musician)
* can also be used as a pin cushion
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT POLYESTER BOOKS FITZROY.
WWW.POLYESTER.COM.AU
Or mailorder: whitebreadmexican@gmail.com
Check the Myspace page.
And if anyone wants to buy me an early christmas/late birthday present…