Dear friends, Re: Australian Government's Recent Statements Concerning the Stolen Generation The Australian Coordinating Committee for the World March of Women in the Year 2000 (WMW2000) met again by phone link-up last night. In addition to the list of World Demands which has been endorsed by the Australian coordinating committee (see http://www.ffq.qc.ca), a list of Australian Demands has also been agreed. One of the agreed Australian Demands is: "that the Prime Minister should, on behalf of the nation, make an apology to the Stolen Generation". In view of recent statements on the part of the Australian Government, the Australian WMW2000 coordinating committee last night agreed the following statement concerning the stolen generation: "In the spirit of reconciliation, the women working together in Australia for the campaign of the World March of Women in the Year 2000, wish to acknowledge the anguish of the stolen generations and the pervasive impact of previous policies of white Australia which continue to affect all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to this day. In particular, we wish to convey to the stolen generations our firm stand in support with you in your present hour of need. We will continue to work to bring some degree of awareness of the actual situation to our elected political leaders. We deeply regret the hurtful and blind statements on the part of our Prime Minister and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. We are sorry." As we wish to distribute this statement as widely as possible, we would appreciate your forwarding it throughout your networks. Many thanks. peace and hope, from, Cathy Picone on behalf of the coordinating committee World March of Women 2000 - Australia -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
