Oh Megan Davis
Alas, Australia IS an island. We used not to be, and Australia had a proud history in promoting and supporting the United Nations.

But - especially over the past 11 years, Australia has moved in a kind of isolationist direction, but not completely isolated, for our government has ganged up with the U.S. government, to turn its back on international co-operation in so many ways. Howard's Australia blindly followed George W. Bush into Afghanistan, and with the hypocritical "WMD" lies, into the disaster of Iraq.

The Australian government tried hard to get the United Nations to take the rap for the scandal of the AWB bribery of Saddam Hussein, (while our troops were in Iraq fighting him).

Our treatment of refugees has been shameful, and our Prime Minister, for a long time, achieved the feat of getting asylum seekers to be called “illegal immigrants”.

By being the only other developed country to refuse to ratify Kyoto, Australia again tried to downgrade the UN and international action. We now look like paying the price for this one – as Australia has shown no interest in acting globally - even though we will probably be the worst hit country, regarding global warming, and we might need global help.

Worst of all, under the Howard government, is the cultural isolation that has developed. We don’t bother learning foreign languages and culture, especially Asian ones. Now we’re trying to make migrants pass some stupid “values” test, that most of us “Aussie-born” couldn’t pass - so we can all look and sound the same.

It’s all so stupidly xenophobic that Howard and co probably see the aborigines as “foreigners”. Is it any surprise that Australia has not signed up to the Declaration on Indigenous Rights? After all, the UN people are all foreigners too.

John Donne would surely feel himself to be a stranger in Australia.
Christina Macpherson www.antinuclearaustralia.com

Yes, Australia ought to sign the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. If that Declaration had greater substance and meaning it would be accompanied by an Optional Protocol that would empower a UN body to investigate complaints of breaches of those rights.

But signing this Declaration or any of those Covenants, Treaties, Conventions or Declarations that have come before this one (and that have been equally ratified by both Labor and Coalition governments) doesn't mean a damn thing, unless there is the will and the actual implementation of the Declaration through legislation passed by the Australian Parliament.

It is one thing to say yes, we agree with UN Declarations, comprising International Human Rights Law, but it is another to do anything more than agree.

I agree with Geoffrey Robertson QC:- we cannot rely on Parliaments to uphold our individual rights and responsibilities. When people that I worked with were savaged by an indifferent, heartless State Government and sought to claim and exercise our human rights, those rights were found to exist only in documents that Australia had ratified, but none were written into legislation, and worse there was no judicial process available so that allegations about breaches of our rights and recourse could be heard in a competent judicial system to ensure accountability.

Yes, an Australian government ought to ratify the Declaration, but only on the basis that it is not yet another charade or promise that can never be fulfilled, unless the Australian Government commits the Declaration to legislation, and further, commits the judicial resources so that there are legal remedies in the event that those and all other human rights that are breached, which no doubt happens every day. Unless there is legislation, it is probably better not to ratify the Declaration, than making yet another promise to the people that will not be kept. We don't need more "feel good" motherhood statements. We need real action. Based on past history, unfortunately, we must rely on so called representative Parliaments for this, except for what we can do every day in our own lives.

That form-over-substance-toothless-tiger, the UN, has dished out yet another piece of paper with words on it, that have no authority.

But it is, uhm, recognition.

Oh, the triumphant triamphalism of nothingness.

l feeeewl much better about myself now. Thank goodness. Now, is there something l can paint green.

Australian Citizens do recognise in international law, it is our leadership in all areas of the UN at present who loiters on world sustainablity policies.

Be it on Climate Change, SEOUL or our "Indigenous peoples inherent rights including the right to self-determination and the collective right of Indigenous peoples to enjoy and realise fundamental rights and freedoms."

Well SAID - Australia is not an island and another TEN YO Megan Davis, "It is true the system is imperfect and has limitations."

"But we must never forget that the genesis of the modern international system lies in international consensus that states can not always be trusted to do the right thing by its citizens; if anyone understands that, Indigenous Australians do, and it is for this reason that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples is a welcome development."

All Displaced People and People who are locked outside the radar of the socio-economic, cultural and political centered metropolis... it seems, are being asked to pluck at substance + our own mettle right now.

Asked to Stand up and be Counted.

Hopefully with more articles and national discussion, more talking with friends... we might share + learn more... and apply ourselves together earnestly, so as to find out 'Away' toward equity and peace, more affirmatively.

TA MEGAN DAVIS.

This is WHEN Our Vote Really Counts, Right?

TA OLO.

http://www.miacat.com
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Great article on the declaration Megan.
What is there about the ex british colonies that unites them in their view of the world on this issue? There's some sort of Yes, we are very clever and modern, But No we are not having any foreign ideas coming in here and messing up the place.
Let's hope this declaration is a way to spark more people's interest in human rights and the need to respectfully listen as a starting point to wider thinking.

Support the Australian Government signing agreements on Human Rights.

Do NOT support, yes this means oppose the Australian Government signing declarations on racial rights.

The Indigenous Rights agreement is another racial rights in costume.

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