Award winning human rights documentary screening at Old School
Movie Preview by John Lawson
Our Generation – on at the Old School on Sat 2nd at 8pm
The Old School Arts Centre on Stewart St has two films on this month, so you can experience a fortnightly trip to the cinema for just $11 a night and very little travelling. ‘Our Generation’ is coming first; 8pm this Saturday, 2 February.
Many of us probably have a vague recollection of news about drunkenness and child abuse in Australia’s Northern Territory in 2007. The Australian Government took control of 73 communities, home to the oldest living culture in the world. We probably thought Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generation ended any problem. So, how many of us know that, 5 years on, child abuse has doubled, health is poorer and suicides up five-fold? The original intervention has been extended for another 10 years. Indigenous language teachers have been withdrawn and school attendance is down. There is now pressure to open up Aboriginal lands to mining companies. The film documents lies and broken promises. It received the award for the Best Campaign Film at the London Documentary Festival.
“Explains very clearly why Australia’s indigenous people are being defrauded of their human and political rights in a country calling itself a democracy.”JOHN PILGER, journalist, author and filmmaker.
The Government has focused spending on a few towns, where employment is limited and traditional food replaced by junk food. This has moved families away from the places they and their ancestors have known for longer than any other civilisation, and where they can eat traditional healthy foods. Aborigines’ life expectancy is now 17 years shorter than other Australians and child mortality 3 times higher. This well-researched, award-winning, documentary gives an insight into the threatened traditional culture and languages, as well as looking at the injustices.
The film has been edited from 73 to 52 minutes, which ensures it is always riveting. After the the screening, there is time for a ‘where to from here’ discussion after the film, led by Angeline Greensill. The film makes the point that Australia is the only colonial country not to have a treaty with its indigenous peoples. However, a Waikato DHB report said 10% of mortality in Māori children was respiratory related, but it was not a cause of mortality in non-Māori children and that hospitalisation increased with deprivation. Weekly median incomes last year were $580 for Pakeha, but $459 for Māori. Māori life expectancy is about 8 years lower than non-Māori. Nearly all Māori speakers have English as their first language. The place of oral traditions has changed. See the film! Join in the discussion!
