ABORIGINES IN AUSTRALIA : PARTICULAR STORY OR INEVITABLE DESTINY?

 Australia. Sea, sun and a wide savage landscape, enough to attract millions of tourists every year. Lost in the immense Pacific Ocean, this great island is the sixth biggest country in the world. The immense mysterious ocean and the thousands of kilometers of distance maintained the country safe and peaceful, until the seventeenth century. Until curiosity, lust for power and wealth drew the westerners to its shares. When men did not fear navigation anymore. Great Britain discovered the island and realized the many resources it offered and so it was that Australia became a colony. Australia became one more territory for the British Empire, and provided it with power, glory and pride. Should the Empire not have been grateful, respectful towards the country and its population? Domination is one of the man’s old vice…

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hen Australia was first colonized by the British Empire, the resources and wealth that the land offered were not immediately recognized as such. The Mortality rate was very high for the first settlers; they didn’t have necessary knowledge and material for agriculture. Australia was seen as a hot, arid and dry country, and starvation long threatened the colony. For Great Britain, Australia was at first a response to a preoccupying problem: the overcrowded prisons. Thus, Australia was first used as a place where the “surplus” of prisoners was sent. It was later, in the middle 19^th century that the English government really discovered the resources offered by the huge island and the profit they could make out of it. As soon as they discovered the gold and had realized they could boost their economy, the settlers pushed the aborigines away.

 The Colonial Society

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nitially, Great-Britain wanted to sign a treaty with the Indigenous authority, but it did not work out, because indeed, there was no Indigenous government or even authority in place. Aborigines lived in different separated tribes, and Great Britain could not possibly deal with every local inhabitant. As Great-Britain couldn't use in conventional communication, language and culture bbecame barriers and so the British government declared the continent as uninhabited: “Terra Nullius”.

From that moment on, a non-egalitarian society developed, based on force, European domination and firmly-rooted prejudices about race. It was foretaste of the colonial societies that developed a little later, all over in Africa as Europe launched the race for colonies. Powers proclaimed to fight slavery but they didn't give to the populations they colonized civic rights. Furthermore they did not ensure the development of people but force them to work for the wealth of their country.

Aborigines were not considered as potential owners; their lands were taken by force and given to the White settlers who had left England to do business in Australia. They were therefore not treated like they deserved. White settlers would despise their dedication to the land and nature. Europeans literally appropriated the land and used it for their own wealth, without caring about the consequences of their acts on the local populations and habits. They would destroy things that were worthy and vital to the population, degrading what had been fertile lands and engendering the extinction of some animals. The local economy was destroyed, and local inhabitants began to

work for the British industrial development. Aborigine’s lives rapidly became independent of the settlers. They soon were obliged to work for the settlers, and men woman and children were greatly sought and rarely paid. They would rather receive some food ration or some clothes.

White perception of Aborigines

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hey were considered as a lower race and it is fearsome to know that majority of people thought they would simply die out. Violence grew increasingly, native people were abused, murdered and their children were taken away. A little inside war began indigenous people would eat farmer’s sheep, while farmers went to kill the indigenous. Settlers did not want to deal with the native inhabitants, they probably did not want to face a problem, they tried to convince was not one. Aborigines were sent away from the European settlements. In 1901, Australia became a nation. Its native inhabitants, the ones who had discovered the island first, and who had lived peacefully during centuries, did evidently not benefit of the Australian identity. They did not have the right to vote and were not eligible. Settlers did not take the native population into consideration, they were nothing, savages who did not speak English and who prevent them from living happily as they would have always had. There it is, the well-known haughty despise of White Man towards the ones that are not of his kind. This despise might convey a certain fear of the other, of the unknown. And this fear, we all know it; it is a bad fear, a murderous and irrational fear.

The Stolen Generations

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he increasing number of mixed children became a very annoying topic and a big problem to which they had to find a solution. This solution gives birth to the Stolen Generations. Indigenous and mixed-race children are taken away, voluntarily in some cases by force in the others, and sent to orphanages, church or were even adopted by white families. They were at least one child taken away per Indigenous family. Aborigines are divided in the way they reacted to the White Racial supremacy. Some of them choose to abandon their culture which was partly destroyed and lost, and decided to integrate the White society and their way of living. Others, preferred to retire in the lands, and live separated from the rest of the island. The society that developed is clearly not that far from the one in the USA during Segregation, a century later. People are divided, separated, the White are persuaded of their higher value and cannot deal with idea of race mixed. A similar situation grew worst even later, and relating Nazism, Colonization and American Segregation is certainly not senseless. How could men repeat the same errors that led to terrible violence and to the deepest inhumanity finally making men lose their dignity and any ounce of humanity?

The 20^th century: a long period of fight for Aborigine’s rights

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hange mentality and be accepted in their own country, the Aborigines have fought and are still fighting for this ideal.

The Aboriginal activism increased in response to the obligation of taking away of reserve, land and the assimilation policy. Protest groups were formed. In 1962 the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 was amended so that all Aborigines could vote in Commonwealth elections. Equal pay for Aboriginal workers was finally granted in 1965. They seemed more accepted in the society with the referendum which changed the constitution, to allow people being counted in the census and the Commonwealth government could make laws for them. It was an important change, nevertheless discrimination had not disappeared. Instead of trying to destroy Aboriginal culture, the government finally encouraged people to accept it. It's the period where schools have begun teaching Aboriginal culture and history to both Indigenous and white children. Australia has already celebrated in 1988 the bicentennial anniversary since the arrival of the first European in this country. This day was characterized by Aboriginal protest movements at several places in Australia. Burnum Burnum an Australian Aborigine, symbolically plants a flag on Folkstone beach in Britain and claimed he had taken possession of Britain. Aborigines have acquired many rights they had lost with the imperialism of Europeans. Nevertheless Aborigines had still to fight to be representing in the government and to own a power in their country.

The Australian government has made an apology

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o remove a great stain from the nation's soul and in the true spirit of reconciliation to open a new chapter in the history of this great land Australia.''

“We apologize for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians,"
 Kevin Rudd, the prime minister, read.

The 13^th February 2008 is a historic day for the entire community living in Australia. But the first concerned by this apology are the indigenous Aboriginal population. During years and years they have suffered the exclusion and discrimination’s laws. Some years ago, in 1996, the government had refused while the United Church has already apologized. This symbolic act was essential for the reconstruction of a united country.

How does this dark period of history relate to the film Australia?

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az Luhrmann directed the film Australia and chose two well-known actors to play the main characters: Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

The story takes place in Australia and begins in 1939 when an English Aristocrat Lady Sarah Ashley comes to the Australian outback to claim the cattle ranch called Faraway Downs, which belonged to her late husband. She meets the rugged outdoors man, known as 'the Drover'.

Lady Ashley must hide the young Nullah, a half aborigine, half white child, to the white authorities because they want to send him to the Catholic mission. Lady Ashley is going to love this child as her son. At this period of history, all the aborigines were gathered in these missions to be cured of their heathen ways. Of course a love story will appear between the Lady and the Australian cowboys despite all the pitfalls they will meet. 

This film, through a romantic love story, evokes a dark period of Australian history characterizes by the Stolen Generations and tribute to the Aborigine culture. The theme of the second war is also express through the film with the bombardments of Darwin caused by the Japanese.

In the last few years, many films showing Aborigines life have emerged. They allow the population to better understand the history of their country through realistic episodes of life. Little by little, they are integrated in the society even though any films or apologies could erase the dark past of the country.

UFO: invasion, ly

UFO:

The invasion

     Since a long time ago, scientists believed of another form of humans, living in an unknown planet outside of the solar system. Finally it seems like alien intercepted one of this discussion and started moving to place curiosity in human mind. Phenomenons like UFO appeared and their visit multiplied, increased more and more in time. After broadcasting informations about them: films, comics books were created. The story used witnesses scenes descriptions and their incredible swear of having seen strange creature. Do you think UFO is the Man's product of imagination? The answer resides in disconcerting testimonies presented in this documentary. A lot of UFO sight was reported, but particularly three marked the history which two are explained in it.

VARGINHA CASE

 

     The issue is that not only one alien landed on earth but several.  The Varginha story or «the second Roswell» could be finished but a lot of witnesses saw aliens and testified of a strange presence of creature. A night, when three girls go home back from school, they took a short way off where they saw a strange «man» crouching in the coin of a wall. Afraid, they run away and told their mom of the evil sight. As soon as the girls talked about it, the press interviewed them. The three girls had the same description: red bulging eyes, brown shiny skin, three bump on its bigger head, claws, arm – hand – feet just as similar as ours a different point, its feet were bigger and in form of a «V» 

; three blacks men entered in contact with these girls and promised them money if they keep mute but refused the offer affirmed these girls.

A few days later, the military who touched the alien in the hospital died, the army told to the family to bury him without even a funeral. The family mechanically obeyed and did it, after the military's blood sampling examination, they found an unknown toxic substance. It is then that they tried to have funeral in complaining to the justice, but no response to their expectation. They knew that this case was classified national secret and abandoned the fight.

    

      Another strange creature knowing as « Chupacabra » is a type of vampire country people encountered, facing him when it was sucking blood of their animals. Bizarrely, the description seemed to be the same as alien’s, and when the journalist show several picture of the alien’s representation, they all doubtless identify it to the « Chupacabra ».

But finally, military shut the subject up by tracking witnesses able to diffuse any information susceptible to influence people.

     A famous comic book drawer retraces the history of this case and the testimonies in « L'affaire Varginha » in 2009 by Philippe Auger. A very well written comic book which procure stress. Some very disturbing interview extract combined with oppressing atmosphere, create a real effect. This comic book will make you pass from “I can believe” to “I believe”.

MIB

      Do you know them? Do you know who they are? I'm sure you don't.

MIB (Men In Black) is most known as a fantasy film. The Hollywood product film MIB was inspired of strange human interpreted by folks as UFO. MIB appeared in the nineteenth century. It is the first time ordinary people had contact with a kind of modern UFO. MIB are usually seen dressed with black suit like government agent and introduce them self as agent. They are interpreted as a group with the unique goal which is to shut up UFO witnesses to keep them quiet about what they have previously seen. As many encounters have been counted, people think they are observing us. For their inhospitality, witness admit they are really freaking and then they see them as evil, they were like for reasons the bad alien version. Many “victims” of MIB’s tell of telepathic powers, mind control tricks and paranormal auras. The theory that these mysterious men are hallucination of people fears is of course not undeniable.

     But a story tells in the past, of a certain organization group, the International Flying Bureau founded by Albert Bender. Their study object is based on discovering the alien phenomenons. They were they were determined and ready for anything to brighten the subject. Unfortunately, they were obliged to dissolve the group. A threatening group of Men In Black had a contact with them. This meeting was unexpected; the parole of the MIB with Albert Bender shocked him and marked his life. Menaces and encounters increased, oppression came and destroyed their will power of fighting. 

     Another story, a night, a journalist was preparing for a radio presentation about UFO at home. Hours passed, the doorbell rings. She opened the door, two men in black. She was scared, because she knew who they were. Stepping a path back, the men asked her number, not the phone number but like a identity number, their way of speaking were like robot, they didn’t have a recognizable accent. After that, they went back to where they came. Closing the door, returned to her business, her documentaries disappeared.  In an instant, she could not see them around. Both of these story has a very strange aspect, it is up to you to construe.

     It is very funny to see the comparison between the story and the film, every detail are opposing.

The MIB film relate of two super secret agents who have the duty to protect the planet earth against alien invasion. Using their modern technology, passing unnoticed in front of human's eyes, they suppress every memories of  aliens.

Can you see the contrast? MIB are here represented as the good. It is like if the government planned this film, they want us to be confused and see the MIB like fantasy creature invented by human.

 

INTERVIEW

   A lot of people in group don't believe in UFO. But I really wanted to know their true feeling. That's why, I asked in single, students from the Pontonniers high school. I was very interested in their true way to see the UFO perspective, so I asked them this question:

Do you think UFO's are the product of man's imagination?

–Yes. I don't believe in UFO but I do think that there is other form of life that we don't know for the moment.

–Of course! Men believe in extraordinary facts or being because they like to think that there is something beyond the real world.

–In a way, I think men like to be scared and to invent “scandals”. But, as far as I am concerned, I'm not able to say “it exists” or “it doesn't exist”. I think there are some mysterious things we don't know the existence.

–I think there is elements that can make us think about the existence of other forms of life but that we don't have any obvious evidence. In fact, everybody need to make his own opinion, mine is that the universe is infinite, so I think that forms of life are infinite.

–Yes, humans need something that is stronger and smarter than them (like God and religion) to watch over them.

   

    

    

    

Racism in Alsace

Alsace is a French region, next to Germany. It is a particular place, because it has often changed nationality because of wars between these two countries. The last change happened during the second world war, which is recent enough for many Alsatians to still feel marked. Indeed, when the region was occupied, they had to change their language and they had the same laws as Germany. After, peace came the two countries became united by a strong friendship. However, today, a lot of Alsatians are racist against immigrants ; they might feel that immigrants want to occupy the territory as Nazis did. Of course, this is not true, but we can understand why they (wrongly) fear such an occupation. However, every Alsatian is not racist and, even if we can understand their fears, we can't let them influence the future of Alsace.

So hatred against Arabs is becoming increasingly present in Alsace and across France. Such politicians as Sarkozy want to exclude immigrants from France while the “Front National”, the FN, say more or less that immigrants are at the origins of our economic problems, and that expulsion is the solution. Of course, they can not express their opinions explicitly as maybe people would understand that their plans are quite similar to what Hitler did to Jews. However, many people and especially older people are going to vote for racist politicians because they have been convinced by their arguments. This is above all shown by the results of the presidential election where after the first round Sarkozy and Le Pen were beating the other candidates in Alsace.

“Le Mois de l'Autre” (the Month of the Other) was created in Alsace, to educate people on the idea of the “other”, to make people understand them, because when they understand they often accept. The section of the Strasbourg’s “Ligue des Droits de l’Homme” also organized a “Café des Droits de l’Homme”, a meeting to debate racism in Alsace, and racist and xenophobe actions. Many administratively important people took part, including a historian and a philosophy teacher from our high school.

Similarly the Catholic Worker Action, the ACO, holds debates to discuss politics and racism in France. A friend of mine, Gerard, is a retired priest who attends those meetings. He was very pleased to talk about racism in France with me.

“-Hi Gerard ! I have a few questions for you... I think, as you see a lot of people in the street and everywhere, that you are often confronted to racism, and its consequences... Do you know where it comes from and how does it manifest itself?

-Hi! Yes indeed, there are approximatively 100 000 people from the Maghreb in France. A lot of people vote Le Pen (the “Front National”) in Alsace, but in fact, the further you go out from cities, the more people are racist. But we can't say that everyone voting Le Pen is racist. The FN says that 3 000 unemployed persons are 3 000 foreigners who should not be here. However foreigners are not the cause of the economic crisis in France. We are always looking for scapegoats, but this crisis is a result of the policy of relocation. When I go to supermarket, the security guards are usually black people, and people working in public works are usually from the Maghreb. We clearly see that foreigners are doing the painful jobs that the others don't want to do.

-What do you think is the cause of those reactions?

-For me, in this time of economic crisis, xenophobic and racist reactions are increasing mostly because people don't know why everything is going so badly. That is why so many associations, such as the ACO, are trying to meet people, to help them know about the other cultures and to create better social links. The key is to know we urgently need to meet people to understand them better. Foreigners are not our enemy, they are our wealth.

-Yes I totally agree with you, we all need to act! Do you know why there are immigrants in France, didn't we need them in the past years...?

-You're not wrong! In the 1960s and 70s France brought people from Sub-Saharan and North Africa, because we needed workers. Afterwards everyone thought that they would go back to their own countries, but they took root. They then became foreigners in two countries, like the young girl I met to the JOC (Christian Worker Youth) who comes from Portugal. In France, everybody called her “the Portuguese” and in Portugal they called her “the French”.

Racism and xenophobia are a social cancer.

-How would you explain the place immigrants hold in our society now? Because they seem to be the victims of the crisis, not the cause.

-Yes indeed! Standing up against foreigners and accusing them of being the cause of the crisis is easy, but those who are genuinely taking advantage of the situation are the bankers and the shareholders; the immigrants are the victims, as you said. Our society is taking advantage of immigrants while xenophobic movements, above all the FN, say that they are the cause of everything. There are stereotypes in every society : in Holland, Belgium, France and everywhere else where the xenophobic extreme right gets hold of people. Consequently, even people in the street think that immigrants are taking advantage of grants and subsidies (…) but this is not true!

Racism is deeply anchored in our society and a lot of people are suffering.

I think that the majority of people are being fooled.

-Thank you so much Gerard for all the information you've given me ! I'm happy to see that people like you are raising up against injustices !

-You're welcome ! Bye !”

To close up, racism is very present in Alsace, due to the historical context of this region, but with the efforts of people like Gerard, who are very engaged, and with the many associations, we can go against the tide because even if your family can (wrongly) think that way, it doesn't mean that you have to be the same. Being in international schools, being open to others, to differences, might help some to feel more comfortable with the “others” ! We are all the same and our generation can change the future by understanding that being racist won't lead us anywhere... except back to WW2 !

Camille D

Image's source :

France 3 [Online]. France 3, 2012 [consulted on : May 2012]. Available at : http://alsace.france3.fr/info/elections-2012/presidentielle-2012--n-sarkozy-en-tete-en-alsace-73527066.html

Worldnet3 [Online]. Worldnet3, 2012 [consulted on: May 2012]. Available at: http://www.worldnet3.org/valeur.php?i2

Education gouv [Online]. Education gouv, 2012 [consulted on: May 2012]. Available at:

http://www.education.gouv.fr/vie-lyceenne/cid59627/en-mars-les-lyceens-d-alsace-celebrent-le-mois-de-l-autre.html

Lana Del Rey, new musical icon or fad?

 

You see this woman at the top of the page? Her name is Lana Del Rey, which is a mysterious name for a mysterious woman. This 25 year old New York singer-songwriter recently released her second studio album, Born to Die. With a debut single like Video Games, everyone was expecting a new shock in the industry of music and finally the results are pretty mixed. Actually the expectations were huge as this lady seemed to be promising to return Hollywood to the glamour of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Some people seemed disappointed by songs that are too repetitive. Yet others say that she just took their breath away. It is obvious that a lot of people felt sympathy for this sweet fresh voice. So the question is, Lana Del Rey, are you really honest about your music, or is it only about money and plastic surgery?

First it is undeniable, after having watched her three videos, that she doesn’t bring us into an old fashioned universe with its colours and the quality of the videos but it still feels like Lana is not really genuine. Some of the lyrics and melodies of her songs are really too similar. Take Born to Die for example, add some sensual phrases and whisper them and you have National Anthem. This album is a good album but describing every song would be a waste of time as the 3 songs, Born to Die, Video Games and Blue Jeans, bear the same shadowy melancholy as the rest of her songs. Here is the real problem: she came like a fury with three aces and then she had nothing left to offer. Lana Del Rey would be some sort of artifice in the way she captivates people with her entrancing voice and music yet, in reality, she is only singing flat lyrics.

The ambiance of the beginning of Hollywood is also obviously there but in a wrong way. Did you know that her first album Kill Kill, produced when she was still known under the name Lizzy Grant, was a total disaster? Maybe this is just a coincidence. Maybe she has simply been formatted in her music and in the way that she looks. Despite our criticism we “give” that album a 6/10 because of the unique tone of voice and a surprising recycling of the vintage universe.

I chose to interview Cléa B, a 17 year old teenage girl who is deeply in love with her boyfriend, to learn what youth thought about this new musical phenomenon

Interviewer: Good evening Cléa so you obviously listened to Lana Del Rey's album Born to Die. First what did you think about it? Did you like it?

Cléa: Actually, I only knew the song called "Video Games" and when I listened to the whole album, it was completely new for me. This album is amazing. Lana Del Rey's voice is absolutely wonderful and all the songs are beautiful. It calms me down.

Interviewer: Yeah I personally also like it. What about the lyrics? Did you connect with them? Do you think this album can be listened to at any time and anywhere?

Cléa: I like listening to Lana Del Rey's songs when I’m in my bed, they calm me down a little.

Her lyrics all speak about love, pain, and desire. It's hard to identify yourself with them but they're beautiful.

Interviewer: You probably know that Lana Del Rey was not always that famous. She underwent surgery and her new music is not the same as it used to be. Do you think she was pushed to become a pop icon or do you think she just wanted to get to the top by herself?

Cléa: I heard she was thinking about stopping music. So I think that she didn't want to become that famous. She has been criticized a lot and she has taken it very badly. But anyway, even if she underwent surgery, we're not supposed to judge her on that. Her music is important.

Interviewer: Finally do you think she and her work are meant to last in time?

Cléa: If she said she was about to stop music, I don't think so! But her songs will last, that's for sure.

Interviewer: Thanks a lot for your time it was interesting and very pleasant talking to you.

Cléa: You're welcome!

Survey

Our journalists asked people to listen to songs from the first and the second album of Lana Del Rey and they had to decide which one they preferred, results below:

	Percentage
1. Kill Kill	7,2
2. Born to Die	92,8

First according to the people prefer her second album, which proves us that this music was meant to be listened to by a large audience. However her debut album feels much more natural which is why it was maybe more aimed at a jazz loving and knowledgeable audience. Nowadays music is for sure working old genres and it is such a shame to make business out of this. This story is probably not over Lana Del Rey certainly has another trick in her pocket and this time we might be more surprised.

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