NORTHAM’S RACIAL HATRED DISGRACE
I just started to enjoy the second day of the 2010 Fremantle Festival over a cup of coffee at the Moore&Moore Cafe, when an article on page 3 of the West Australian shocked me back into reality.
During a protest against the proposed asylum seeker detention centre in Northam, two women were wearing T-shirts with the slogans “Bomb Their Boats” and Sink Their Boats” That is absolutely disgraceful to me. How can anyone advocate bombing and sinking boats full of men, women and children? What an inhumane, fascist, and selfish attitude is that!
One of the women, Belinda McKinnon, claims that refugees committed an illegal act when trying to enter Australia, while the fact is that under international law asylum seekers can seek refuge in any country they like.
‘Ladies’, you are inciting racial hatred. THAT is illegal in Australia. You are a disgrace to this nation.
Roel Loopers
ABORIGINAL SUPPORT WITH GENERATION ONE
After the television speech by 13 year old Aboriginal girl Madeleine Madden, I decided to join the Generation One movement. You should too!
Here more info from them:
Dear Roel Loopers,
Thanks for joining GenerationOne, the movement where ALL Australians come together to end Indigenous disparity take practical action to finally eradicate the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
You have joined almost 50,000 other Australians who believe we will never end the disparity until we have sustainable Indigenous jobs and career opportunities; education that prepares students for life; training that is specific for a job that is guaranteed; and mentoring programs that gets results.
This is your movement – an opportunity for all Australians, whether you are Indigenous or non-Indigenous, of whatever background or party, to join together and finally end this unacceptable Australian problem. And do it in one generation.
Over the coming months, we’re going to ask you to roll up your sleeves and take part; at campaign events, through supporting organisations in your community or just getting your friends to lend their hands. But your first task is to help grow this grassroots movement. We are not asking for your money, but our success depends on your support.
Will you ask ten of your friends to join us today?
The journey so far has been amazing. Since March 2010 my team at GenerationOne and I have travelled across the entire country, and met thousands of inspiring Australians – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – who are working to end the disparity. GenerationOne has engaged with not-for profit organisations, community leaders, schools, Universities, businesses, employer groups, training providers, job service providers, governments and of course, individuals like you who want to be part of the generation for change.
Already some of these great stories are out there, but with your help we can now inspire even more people, and break down negative stereotypes. Share some of our stories with your friends, or share your personal story with GenerationOne. If you are part of an organisation, register your details here so we can demonstrate your success to others.
This is a new campaign, so there’s a lot to do. We want your ideas on how we can make real and sustainable change for Indigenous Australians. Will you contribute an idea today?
The time is right, and we cannot wait any longer. The facts speak for themselves:
Just 33% of Indigenous young people age 18-24 are “earning or learning” compared with 71% of non-Indigenous young people.
EIGHT of ten jobless Indigenous people are unable to work, because of illiteracy, alcohol, or other psychological problems.
Furthermore, in some rural areas, up to 70% of Indigenous children regularly do not attend school.
This is not an easy goal and it will take time to get there – but it won’t happen unless we start work today and every Australian plays their part. By signing up, you have joined a movement that focuses on real and sustainable change. So thank you.
Tania Major and the entire Generation One team
P.S. If you’re on Facebook, please become a supporter of us there. We’ll keep you updated: http://www.facebook.com/GenerationOneAU
The Generation One Team
MULTICULTURALISM PROOF IS IN THE MEAT
While German chancellor Angela Merkel has been telling the world that multiculturalism is not working, local Fremantle butcher Frank’s in Wray Avenue is obviously of a different opinion. The sign behind the one below even advertised Scottish Haggis!
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
It might be the upcoming full moon, or my upcoming birthday, but I have been feeling quite reflective the last few days. It could also be because I might have to leave Fremantle, the city I feel so much passion for.
But I have left other cities behind, and kept so many memories, and lost quite a few as well, that it should not make me as sad as I feel today.
When I left the Hague in the Netherlands at just 20, I was too excited about my new life in Nuremberg, Germany, and the start of my career as a press photographer there, to feel too sad about leaving my family and safety net.
I loved living in Franconia, the northern part of the state of Bavaria, with all its romantic, historic, towns and cities, the great beer, the food, and the people who worked and played so hard each and every day of the 13 years I lived there. What a culture of great theatre, music and art, and what a controversial history to deal with as a Dutchman. Such a challenge not to get upset when drunken oldies sang the Horst Wessel song, not to celebrate the war or Nazism, but simply because it was part of their history.
And I loved traveling to those other stunning countries, to discover gorgeous Prague, Venice, Florence, Vienna, Paris, Mostar, London, to see the beauty of Africa, Sri Lanka, Asia.
But I left all that, and the (financial) security it gave me, behind as well.
Migrating to Australia in the early eighties was a huge adventure. How stunning Sydney was. Our flat on the sixth floor of a building in Bondi Junction had unlimited views over the harbour, the opera house, the city and the beaches. What a change to go from drinking wine from Boksbeutel bottles to cask wine. What a challenge to deal with a new language, a new culture, and being unemployed in a foreign country, and how satisfying to fight through it and succeed, and prove that no matter where I lived I could survive, become part of my new community, and enjoy life.
Two and a half years later there was another new start with the move to Perth and the establishment of Profile Photography. Buying a first small house in Como was a big step, followed by another when we moved to Swanbourne and built and extension to the old Californian bungalow.
Business was outstanding and life was full-on at every level. It was like living in an exciting, but very real, dream.
The next change that was extremely challenging to deal with, was the end of a twenty- year relationship. How close we had become, especially after migrating together, and how much we cared, and still do, for each other. But life had changed us, and so had our directions.
Fighting depression and mid-life crisis, I found myself again after travelling through Australia by 4WD for eight or so months, and knew I wanted to become a vocal voice for social justice and against racism. I am very proud I achieved that also.
So here I am, on my own yet again, thinking how beautiful and rewarding life has been, and how tired I am of moving, and new challenges, and changes. I would have been quite happy to retire here in my beloved Fremantle, but it looks like I might have to move on one last time.
Roel Loopers
GET WELL ARCHIE!
Sad to hear the news that Aboriginal singer/songwriter Archie Roach suffered a stroke while doing a song writing workshop in the Kimberley. He is in Broome hospital.
His song THEY TOOK THE CHILDREN AWAY always gives me goosebumps.
His partner Ruby Hunter only died recently, so this is another set-back for this man, who has had so much hardship in his life. He was one of the Stolen Generation children, and was a street kid for a long time, before he became famous for his gravelly voice and deep meaning songs.
Get well soon, Archie!
Roel Loopers
SAUDIS NATIONAL DAY
The 80th national day of Saudi Arabia was celebrated for the first time in Western Australia at the Fremantle Esplanade today. It was a colourful spectacle of dance, music, food and information, in a very friendly atmosphere.
Interesting to see the men doing the dancing and serving. Emancipation at its best, if it wasn’t for the, often confronting for Westerners, full body black garments of the women and the hijabs and burqas they wear.
Photos copyright Roel Loopers. Profile Photography
SHOOTING THE MESSENGERS
The article by Rosemary Neill “Not A Good Look” in the Review section of the Weekend Australian points out how absurd the restrictions are which are imposed on professional photographers by authorities all over Australia. It is well worth reading, so here the link:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/not-a-good-look/story-e6frg8n6-1225930635070
Neill writes:
“It is ironic that photographers feel under siege when voyeurism has been turned into a national pastime. Witness the enduring popularity of reality television, the celebrities who tweet compulsively about the most mundane details of their lives and ordinary individuals who post dozens of photographs of themselves on Facebook. Our multimedia society is arguably the most narcissistic and (superficially) self-revealing in history.
Yet, paradoxically, the rise of online and mobile media has also bred mistrust of professional photography and has entrenched ideas about the need to control images — and who makes money from them — whether the subject be a private citizen or a well-known landmark.”
It is my view that the paranoia about pedophiles and terrorists in society, and the over the top restrictions on professional photography by local, state and federal governments, border on the ridiculous.
The strange thing is that pedophiles have all the access in the world on the internet to photos of children taken by their own families. The naive post them on Facebook, Twitter, etc. for everyone to see! And terrorists have Google Earth to browse for detailed photos of almost every inch of the planet.
Professional photographers openly walk around with large cameras, because we have nothing to hide, but because we do so we become targets of zealot officials and parents.
While professional photographers are constantly harassed and restricted in carrying out our legal work, everyone else can go ahead and shoot covert photos with their mobile phones and tiny digital cameras. What a joke!
In over 40 years working as a professional photographer I have always been very aware that with each image I take I am recording the history of that very moment. These valuable photos will be lost if authorities keep taking our liberties away. Instead of acknowledging the importance of these professional historic photos, we are being treated as criminals.
The restrictions on professional photography are discriminatory. We have become the new muslims, or blacks, or boat people, or whatever minority groups our society has discriminated against before they started targeting us.
Roel Loopers
Should I be stopped from taking these kind of photos?
Photos copyright Roel Loopers. Profile Photography
FLEEING VIOLENCE PHOTO EXHIBITION
The weather is stunning, the Dockers are playing a final, and it will be Fathers’ Day, but in between wander down to the Moores Building in Henry Street in the West End, and most beautiful part, of Fremantle on the weekend, and have a look at the photo exhibition by Amnesty International FLEEING VIOLENCE TO FREE THEIR FAMILIES.
This is a good show to open one’s mind about refugees, asylum seekers and boat people and to understand that Australia should show more compassion for people in need of protection.
While at the Moores building enjoy a great breakfast or lunch in the Moore&Moore cafe. There will be live music on Sunday morning.
Roel Loopers
WIDOW OF ABORIGINAL ELDER MR WARD RECEIVES COMPENSATION
It has taken a while but today the Western Australian state government announced a one off payment of over 3 million dollars to the widow and children of Aboriginal elder Mr. Ward, who was left to rot in the back of a prison van on the way to Kalgoorlie.
This is just one tiny step to get rid of racism and racist attitudes in this country and we will succeed. Racism is unacceptable at any level and need to be fought, be that for our indigenous people or for the boat people who are treated like trash and political footballs by our major parties. It needs to be stopped!
Roel Loopers
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