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Health authorities and politicians are urging people not to attend Black Lives Matters demonstrations to avoid the spread of COVID-19. While this is understandable, the outrage triggered by the murder of George Floyd in the US has united the global community over systemic racism that is fuelling positive change.
COVID-19 has amplified the many injustices in our world. Social issues of long standing, suffering and inequality, environmental issues, everything is more acute, more urgent and more vital. As coronavirus has infiltrated our lives and consciousness, it’s dramatically shifting our values and priorities. It’s all a matter of survival.
PM Scott Morrison is completely ignorant when he said this week there was never any slavery in Australia. It was common practice across Australia to chain Aboriginal people by the neck and force them to work in sugar cane plantations, and in other labouring tasks. This week Morrison was frantically back peddling, saying that he was specifically referring to the establishment of the NSW colony. He said that he ‘deeply regrets’ any offence caused. But at the same time, Rio Tinto destroyed an ancient Aboriginal site this week and the WA government has given approval to BHP to destroy 40 others. BHP are now also back peddling after a public outcry, and have put their plans ‘on hold’, but this doesn’t mean they have cancelled them. Just more evidence of racism, cultural genocide and environmental vandalism. I really hope that this virus causes some real and lasting mutations in corporate attitudes and government policies across the board.