Blog Ten; Rabbit Proof Fence

The Aboriginals are faced with many injustices as the European settlers began to colonize Australia. The right to equality and freedom from discrimination go hand in hand. The Aboriginals were deprived of both. They were discriminated against by their color and beliefes, and they were not treated equally to the White Man. Already two humans rights taken away. Their freedom to participate in the culture life of the community was taken from them. They could no longer "perform their dances and other ceremonies that were crucial to their culture and whole way of life" (16). They no longer had the freedom of belief and religion as their "teachers and keepers of the traditional Law were prevented from practising it" (16). Many Aboriginals were also arrested and exiled suddenly, with no need for an investigation to prove them guilty. As their rights were further stripped from them, they were no longer themselves. They were not equal in the eyes of the Europeans. They were loosing their humanity.
The "civilizing" of Australian Aboriginals could possible mirror historical events of the United States. Native Americans, as their "racial title" explains, were native to America. When European settlers came to America they encountered these Native Americans. The Natives were forced from their land and had treaties forced upon them by the Europeans. They were also not recognized as citizens, were not given a right to vote, and faced with discrimination from other races. The Europeans would, throughout history, drive the American citizens to become more like them. This was only settled through many years of disagreement and war.
They actions of the Europeans were far from morally justified at this point. They relocated children of mixed descent for their own benefit. The starved parents of their children and seperate families. This should not be right in the law. They acted inhuman as they took young kids from their families, homes, lives. They took them from everything they knew in the world, so they could teach them their "Western ways."  By doing this, they were destroying a culture and destroying the lives of children and their families. When a child would be taken, everyone would suffer. These Europeans put them through pain that one could not possibly imagine.

Blog Nine; Invasive Species

Cane toads are large toads. They hatch from eggs, grow from a tadpole, and eat insects. Cane toads are native to Central and South America. However, the cane toad is an invasive species to Australia. This toad was introducted to Queensland in the mid 1930's. It was going to be used to control the cane beetle, which were easting the sugar cane crops of Australia. About 3,000 toads were released into Queensland plantations. Unfortuantely, this had little effect on the beetles, and they spread quickly. They have very few predators, and a surplus of food. Cane toads can now be found in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory. These toads can eat many different things randong from plants, to dog food, to small vertebrates, and they can survive for exdtended periods away from water, or around sea water. Cane toads contain a poison that can kill an animals trying to eat them. Snakes, eels, and fish often are predators of cane toad, but very few animals in Australia are able to tolerate their venom. The government, as well as the residents of the Australia, are trying to control the cane toad problem. The best way to stop more cane toads from being produce is to find, and kill the eggs. Some people find cane toads in their yard, and put them in their freezer over night. Also, recently, people have been putting cat food next to pond to attract carnivorous ants that are immune to the cane toad's poison and will eat the baby toads.
The Chinese Tallow is an invasive species currently effecting the south of the U.S. This pretty plant reproduces and grows quickly, taking up space from native plant species. They can grow into forests quickly and are very weather and pest resistant. Their berries are also toxic to humans and animals. To get rid of these trees people are chopping them down, digging up their roots, using pesticides, and even trying to burn them. But the seeds still return for years to come. It's very difficult to get rid of these plants for good. Chances are, these trees aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Invasive species are definitely something we should be concerned with. These species being to overpower an area where they were never meant to belong in the first place. The Chinese Tallow, as well as other invasive species in America, are very similar to the cane toads and rabbits in Australia. These species are very difficult to get rid of, and are taking over the land, giving native species no chance to settle in their own. It's also killing off native species and can be harmful to humans.

Chinese Tallow~