7.+DOWN+UNDER

** I. As this page is still in the making, sometimes you're not going to be able to edit it. This means I'm working on it and that's why it is momentarily locked. So, you've got to try again later:(( THIS PAGE WILL ONLY BE OPEN TILL the 6th APRIL. HAVE FUN:)) ** ** A. 1. It all starts with a guided tour of Australia. ** media type="youtube" key="kx2KLYdnfRc" width="339" height="280"media type="youtube" key="q3vHWM4xlAk" width="339" height="280" **What do you think of this introduction to the country? Would you like to visit it? What impressed you the most?** I've always thought Australia was a great country, with an amazing culture and with a beautiful scenery. I'd love to visit it someday. Marta Ferreira
 * 7. DOWN UNDER**

**I agree with Marta. Since I was a little girl I wanted to visit Australia. The only thing that stops me is the travelling: so many hours in a plane must be horrible!** **I would love to see the kangarooes, just like __lady__ Ashley did, eheh. Mariana Mercatelli ** Australia is a country that shines because of its beauty. As Mariana and Marta I'd love to go there, I'm sure it would be a great trip not only because are the sightseeings amazing but it also transmits quite and peaceful vibrations :) Mariana ferreira  I would love to visit Australia. I thing that travelling is the best way to learn and have fun, and visiting Australia would be fantastic. So, I think our teacher should think on a fieldtrip to Australia... xD Gonçalo Henriques

I would definitely visit Australia, mainly because of the culture and the animals. Tough I also think that this island is not just a place to travel and enrich our knowledge, it’s one of the best destinations to a great holiday, with plenty of sun and amazing beaches. What impressed me the most was the weather discrepancy because I always thought that the entire island was extremely hot. Tiago

Australia seems to be a great country to visit, not only because of its culture and funny australian accent but also for all the rare animals and fantastic landscapes that we can find there. When we talk about some strange, dangerous and diferent animals, we know that it’s almost certain that they exist in Australia, the diversity of things that we find there is unequaled. That’s why I can’t wait to visit this country. Margarida Aguiar

I would certainly love not only to visit Australia, but also to live there for some months, perhaps years... Even though I have never been there, I usually connect to everything I see and hear about the country. It must be quite an amazing melting pot of people, traditions, food and styles! Fortunately, I have already been given the chance to live/study there. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens next! //(fingers crossed)// Guilherme Cerveira

Australia appears to be a great country with great life quality. Is a very complete country because it as huge cities like Sidney and Camberra, nice beaches, deserts and the aboriginal areas. Australia is not only a mix of landscapes but also of cultures and people. It will be very exciting to visit Australia because we have the comfort of Europe, the landscapes of Africa and Asia and the wild sceneries and animals only Austraia has like Koalas. Definitly, a country of opportunities. Rita Pinto

**Australia had a deep culture that was a bit forgotten while the aboriginies were killed by the colonies. It is a great country hat has so much to give and even more to be found deep in its past!! It is a country away of the world but with the capaity of marking the world!!** **Renato**

I would love to visit Australia. When I think about it, what I always imagine first is the distance from Portugal..it's so far away, it's kind of a "far far away land" like Nullah says. Their accent fascinates me, it's so unique and fun. And there's always the great, gorgeous Hugh Jackman and other amazing and talented actors such as Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, whom I really admire. I hope I get the chance to go there, someday... Emilia Mota

Australia seems to be not only a really beautiful country but also really developed. Besides this they have a peculiar culture that's strongly marked by their ancestors. In spite of all pain and suffer that was inflected on aboriginies, they influenced too much the australian culture. Filipa Pina

I would like to visit Australia, but to get the several sides of it, the outback and the bush and the cities.I 'm a bit afraid of all the animals and insects that live there... Nevertheless, it looks like a beautiful country, with friendly, cool people. I found something funny about the facts, for such a big country it doesn't have a big population only about twice the portuguese number. That's probably a reason why its standard of living is so high, with so many resources to divided by a "few" people. Rita Rebelo

Yes, I would like to visit Australia because first, I always liked to travel. I can learn much more and enrich myself with new experiences. I guess I can compare travelling to a breath of fresh air. Second because Australia seeems to be so beautiful. i always remember on New Year's Eve, at the midday's news appearing Sydney as the first city to celebrate the new year, and I've always thought of what would be like to be there. So I guess, I would like to visit Australia in that day too. Another funny thing I think I would appreciate was the australian accent. we listen to it in films, series or even comedy shows. So, live, it must be much funnier :p Mariana Marques

To me Australia has always been a must on my 'Visit List' and now that I'm becoming more conscious, I see it as well as an oportunity to escape after graduating. If you really think about it, it has everything: culture, magnificent landscapes, an organized governmental internal structure. And I loved what you said in class about those people mentality, about not 'owning people', that notion of freedom, I guess I'd really fit in there. I'm just scared about 1 thing: their football - it's terrible, and I dont think I'd survive much time without my Benfica, but one step at a time! :p Ana Carolina Alb.

Well it is a great country i would like to visit it one day, but, let's say, it isn't a thing in my to do list. it has great culture and a beautiful landscape but usually what attracts me the most about a country is it's roots, it's history, and although australia's history is interesting it isn't really something that makes me want to go there. if it was more like italy, i really love italy, don't know why, it's just awesome...and awesome...and...have i already said awesome. But seriously i like italy's culture and hidtory, it's something that really makes me go there and australia is lacking something, so i would like to go there, but mehhh. **Diogo Pinto 12F**

Australia is an awesome country with beautiful landscapes, cities an culture. I ´d love to visit australia one day, it would be a grat trip. I like almost everything on Australia but the things i love most are the coral reef, the beaches and cities like Sidney. It is probably an unforgettable country. Rui Neves 12E

More than Australia, I’d like to visit New Zealand. However, they both share incredible landscapes and provide an amazing environment to raise a family and to develop a healthy lifestyle. Plus, thanks to the existence of huge waves, the practice of nautical sports is widely favored, which has always been something that attracts me a lot. In fact, they count on great surfers who have won several world championships. I also appreciate the fact that despite being far from the rest of the world they manage to keep up the pace with it. These are definitely two journeys I’d like to plan and hopefully make. Vitória Melo

Australia is indeed a good place to visit, i've always wanted to go to sidney and visit the opera house, the architecture of that building amazes me. It would be fun also to go on a safari just to see the species of animals that we can only find there. I recon it would be a good place to visit but not to live in for long periods of time - it is too far away from our dear europe. Telmo 12E Both videos can give us a very good introduction about this marvellous country. Despite being a trailer the first one can give us an idea of Australia while the second one summarizes the key ideas of the country. I would definitely like to visit it due to the outback and the diversity of animals they have but also because I believe people there are very kind and simple. ** Ana Teresa **

** 2. Now let's visit THE OUTBACK. **** Did you enjoy the ride? Why (not)? ** media type="youtube" key="NlnBTe0X8nA" width="355" height="278"

For me visit Australia is one of the things I have to do before die, all that " savage" environment is fascinating. The onlything I'm afraid is the fact that Australia is known as the country with more animals that can kill us, from the ten most poisonous snakes in the world to the spiders tha tlive daily with the locals... Marcos Bispo

Australia is a great country not only because it was discovered by the portugueses but also due to its landscapes with no end... i've never been in Australia but with what i could saw in the movies i can say that that is a magic land. I fell in love when i saw "Kanguru Jack" and "Nemo"... magnificient animals inserted in magnicient places like deserts, jungles, beachs; and the weather like we could watch in the movie ... And the ironic thing about australia was the fact of in the begining it was a deposit of prisioners from england and now it is one of the few countries that it can be considered peaceful. Emanuel Figueiredo

I enjoyed it indeed. At a first look from way above, we may think that Australia is dry and that doesn’t give us good live conditions. Despite the harsh conditions, that are obviously, Australia deserves our attention and appreciation. This outback allow us to peek a little bit of this island worth: we saw the variety of animals, the several resources that the land can provide us, the uluru and the beautiful aboriginal culture. Tiago

It is really amazing to realise that there still are places on earth that Man has barely touched and industrialised. It must be so beautiful but, as it has been said, it might be dangerous as well. Anyway, kangaroos are one of the most special animals on the planet. __Emilia Mota__ Australia is surprising me a lot. All the landscapes and particular species that we are able to find are just amazing. And indeed it's really important that there's still places, where man hasn't already destroyed. Filipa Pina

I actually didnt know so much about the word outback. Uluru seemed so fascinating ! It was like a big framed sand's sculpture. On the other hand, the paintings make it even more interesting. One thing that I would like to assist, live, are the aboriginal dances. I think they might be really funny and a way of entertainment. Moreover, it would be juicy to face all those icons in Australia, such as the cute kangurus, the bird that imitates the english laughter and the one and only : riding a camel. Mariana Marques

To see live the landscape in Australia must be breath taking, it's a beautiful cenarie. the land of Australia is a land of natural resources which gives the country a big suport in its economy... The wild life is highly diversified, but also dangerous. There's an increadible amount of insects that seem very frightening... [] Rita Rebelo

Yes, I’ve enjoyed quite a lot, since, as I have already mentioned, the landscapes are impressive, the mountains so high, so white and astonishing you think you touch the sky, the seas so wide, and deep and strong you want live there. Besides, it preserves a unique faun that includes my favorite animal, the KOALA. Indeed, marsupials have their only natural habitat in Oceania because when all continents were kept together in Pangeia they were concentrated in its southeastern part. Therefore, when continents got separated, that part gave rise to Oceania that is surrounded by ocean everywhere. As these creatures can’t swim they’re isolated there. Vitória Melo

Even tough it is beautiful it must be really hard to travel the outback because there are so many animals and insects that can kill you in a heartbeat, and some of them are so small and deadly that you would die not knowing that you have benn attacked. Aside from that meeting the civilizations that live there and exploring the vastness of the outback seems like a good way to pass a few days or weeks. Telmo 12E

As the setting of the movie was in fact in Australian countries we can have incredible and truly images of the outback. The contrast of colours and the fact that is not usual to see a landscape like this one very often here in Portugal were the main reasons why I liked so much the outback. ** Ana Teresa ** ** B. Now, shall we view the film "AUSTRALIA"? Let's first look at the trailer: ** media type="youtube" key="kx2KLYdnfRc" width="339" height="280" **1. How did you like the movie? SHARE YOUR OPINIONS, PLEASEEEE!!!**

Well, this movie has Hugh Jackman in it. That's a good enough reason for me to like this movie, even though we haven't finished it yet. Marta Ferreira

 * I loved to watch this movie. Some years ago I started to watch it and I wasn't able to finish it, because I tought it was really boring, so when I heard we were watching it in class I tought "Oh, please, come on!". I got very impressed because it was a really good movie, had really good actors and characters. I think that, after "Forrest Gump" and "The Joneses", it was the movie I liked the most to watch in class. Mariana Mercatelli **


 * as Almeida said they wasted a lot of money during the making of the film, but from what I've seen from it it is a good movie. For me the best film we've seen in the class was 'Into the Wild' but this is coming right after it. It has a great group of actors and their performances are amazing. Mariana Ferreira **

This movie is really amazing. Everything in it is excellent: acting (especially Nicole Kidman), cinematography, plot, visual effects... Everything. We have two great movies to develop a roleplay. Two of the best we've seen in class. Gonçalo Henriques

I like a lot this movie. It’s a nice story developing in such a great land. As themes such as “ Stolen Generations” and “the wakabout” were new to me, I thought it was a great idea to introduce them. As we are also discussing the movies that we’ve seen so far, I think Forrest Gump was the best. Tiago

Australia was a surprise to me, I thought it wasn't good as it showed me to be. When we all thought that it was almost ending, then something happens and the movie continues, it happened three times with "three different endings" which made the movie even more exciting. It was another teacher's good choices. I also think that Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman had a great performance. Margarida Aguiar

This as one of the best movies you already shown us. It as an excellent story and more than that breath-taking landscapes. This is not a common movie about Australia because it shows us different realities from the ones we are used to, such as the aboriginal traditions and the mixed-race people. Of course that the perfomance of Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman improved a lot the story. Rita Pinto

** It is a great film, we can see the greatness of love of a culture, of a country!! we can have other opinions of how were things in that side of the globe during the last century! It surprise me a lot. th story was great but the feiy tale part was not so good indeed. Overall it is a great film with very good actors and good creativity... Renato **

Australia is awesome!! Not only the country with it's wild and sealife, but also the film! In my oppinion this is one of the most original films I've ever ! The story, the themes (aboriginal cultures, cattle stations) and even the film stategies including the flashbacks, the different climaxes and endings! This film is an amazing portray of Australia, showing their different cultures and the relationships between them, their beautiful landscapes etc! HENRIQUE DUARTE

I enjoyed watching the film mainly for its diverse landscape camera shots of Australia back in the days. Nonetheless, the film itself was quite pleasant: a common, yet interesting plot, and several good actors. All in all, it was time well spent and one more piece of knowledge! Guilherme Cerveira

I can not say that Australia was the best film I ever watched but I can positivly say that it was one of the films that carried a great message. The films that bring us back into the past are in my opinion highlighted from the others because the are able to show us how things were back then, how people acted, how religion was handle and how the people who didn't belong to society were treated. This shows us how was the reality a hundred years ago and how society was able to evolve and to learn from its mistakes.

Filipe 12ºE

I see that pretty much all of the girls agree with me, Hugh Jackman is the first great thing about this movie! Seriously, I had already whatched it and I was really impressed because I never excepted it to be so good. Firstly, the settings and the country itself make the movie visually overwhelming. Secondly, I would mention the cultural and historical background of the movie. Allt of the symbols like the song and all the references to the aborigene culture make it very rich and interesting. I have to admit that I didn't know anything about this culture, gladly, I learned a lot from it. Finally, the actors and their performances are astonishing. Personally I don't like Nicole Kidman but I'm forced to admit that her character looks like it was made specially for her and she delivered a great performance. I don't want to leave anyone out, all the actors from the little boy Nullah to Fletcher were fantastic. Emilia Mota

I agree with Filipe when he says Australia wasn't the best film we've ever watched. However, I also agree with Marta Ferreira when she says Hugh Jackman is worthy to see. For me, what made this film a really good film, as I evaluate it, was the cast, the performing of it. All the characters were really well played. For me, Nicole Kidman was the best performer in the movie. It was roleplayed beautifully, I didnt know she was that good of an actress. The details of the accents were really funny too, which didnt make the film boring. It also was one of the films that enriched ourselves more, when talking about new culture, ideals and custumes. I'm really glad I saw it. Mariana Marques

Overall I enjoyed the movie, although after Forrest Gump evething falls a bit short ;), jk. A great thing about it was that it taugh us a lot of australia, before seeing it I had no idea of how much the australian culture was aboriginal... And this aspect made the film very intereesting, specially little Nullah. The negative points, as I said in class, weren't that not a lot of people died but that the leading characters didn't... It's not that I wanted them to died, but it would have given the film a much more believable feel. There was a very clear distinction between the good guys and the bad guys, which made it a bit fairytale like... Rita Rebelo

It's a good movie, it shows what we wanted to see (stolen generation, etc...), it's a great way to know the country's roots and things like that but, i think it's missing a bit of a "wow" factor, that most great movies have...something that really makes us see the movie from beginning to end and then fail to form words to describe it since it was so damn good. But i liked "Australia", the connection to nature and stuff like that really interests me, and of course the real scenarios were great and it's story was really interesting. ** Diogo Pinto 12F **

I have to admit that when i knew that we were going to whatch this movie I was not really excited because i had already seen it and i had not found it as bright as I was expecting however, when i saw it this time in another prespective I realised that it is a movie that as much more than just a love story and beautiful landscapes. It is a film that has strong message behind and that show us a bit of a totally different culture. the fact that there are a lot of references to the aborigenal culture and to all of the suffering that the "white fellaws" caused them makes of it a breathtaking and completely heartbreaking film. Moreover, it show us all the respect and admiration that the aborigenal people have in realtion to nature which is a precious lesson for us. Ana Paula 12E

Australia is not my type of movie but is definitely a great one. It aproaches the topic stolen generations that we discussed in class and makes reference to aboriginal culture, its origins and traditions that probably were unknown for most of the viewers. This movies portrayes the repression and the misery that the so called half castle population suffered in the hands of the whites. They were discriminated because of the colour of the skin and were treated as inferior, as slaves. This was just another example of the lack of equality that rules the world but maybe movies like this can raise awareness to avoid similar behaviors in our daily lifes. We need to learn with our mistakes and evolve to better persons capable of understanding that we are all equal in rights, obligations and opportunities. =Pedro12ºE=

The movie is quite long and dense, but it conveys a beautiful message of resilience, will power, loyalty vs. disloyalty, social hatred and human relationships. It involves several topics that should not be ignored such as stolen generations, aboriginal culture, dreaming, the vitality of music and the deep spiritual link to the land. We can surely establish different plans in this story but, from my point of view the most important and captivating one, the one who portrays the aboriginal culture exemplifying its traditions and rituals can be summarized in this sentence “The tide of history can never take away our connection to land, because it is a spiritual connection and at a higher level (…) Our law and spirituality are intertwined with the land, the people and the creation, and this forms our culture and our sovereignty.” Vitória Melo

First of all the movie gave us a lot of insights into the australian/aboriginal culture, and that is definitaly a plus. I also liked the fact that the movie had australians, russians, asian and english people because it is always good to see people from different culture and background interact. The fact that the movie was unpredictable was what surprised me the most - you never knew when the movie was going to end. I started to believe that they were going to kill almost the entire cast before the end of the film. It was not the best film ever but it wasn't a waste of time, at least we got to know plenty about australia and the aboriginals. Telmo 12E

**2. Nullah: "One thing I know why we tell story is the most important of all. That's how you keep them people belong you always."** ** This is surely my favourite quote. By telling a / __the__ story we immortalise people and make them live beyond the physical barriers and transcend time and space. This sense of belonging that has absolutely nothing to do with property makes us always find our way HOME. **** And now may I ask you the same question? What is your most memorable quote? WHY? ** I like that quote as well, but it makes me confused. They said that people are not supposed to say someone's name after their dead but if telling a their story is the way to make the memory of someone immortal and keep the ones they love close to their heart, how are they suppose to tell the story if referring the name is forbidden? I also really like one quote that I think both Drover and Lady Ashley said: "Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be". To me, the scene itself doesn't have much impact but the quote carries a lot of meaning and possibilities. On the one hand it means that there's always the opportunity to change and make an option like Lady Ashley did and the Drover himself, they fell in love a made dramatic changes in their life because of Nullah. On the other hand, it can mean that we should always try to fight for what we believe is right and putt our efforts into making a change in society. Emilia Mota

My favourite quote is also 'Just because it is, doens't mean it should be.''. This quote had an impact in lots of people, I think, and it shows how people don't want to change atituds sometimes. That's an example of unfair situations, where we know it's wrong but we don't do anything to change and improve. Mariana Ferreira

I don’t have really a favourite quote. Though, I like a lot one quote from Nullah : “She look but she not see, some places got spirits but white fellas don’t know”. As we can see from this quote, the nature, the lands, everything is sacred to the aborigines, everything has spirits, That’s exactly what I love in these tribes, the connection with the animals and the lands. On the other hand, we also can see that the settlers, the white fellas, didn’t give a thing to the properties and what they really wanted from the earth was to make profit, without creating any bond with the places. Tiago

Nullah, I wanted to extend my condolences..

One of the quotes that caught my attention is whe sarah says: "Let's go home" to which drover answers :" there is no place like it". I think that it is a quote that allows us to characterize drover and understand that he was completely integrated in the aborigenal culture living there ideals of freedom. he was a men that avoided stability and that felt a constant need to change which in my opinion was the resolt of all of is suffering and pain that he went trought. he believed that he belong to nowhere and could not found confort anywhere so believe there was no place where he could feel safe. Ana Paula 12E

I liked the quotes quoted here and, although this isn't my favourite, I like it because it's serious yet funny: "Nullah, I wanted to extend my condolences..". You can see that the relationship between Nullah and Mrs. Ashley will suffer an evolution, when she says this it may sound a bit cold, but it's only because she's not very at easy with children, so in the end you realise how much she changes and how this sentence marks the begging of their relationship. Rita Rebelo

Indigenous people express and identify with their spirituality in many different ways. These includes storytelling, which is, for me, one of the most moving and rich things pervading. When it involves writing, the more I feel that way towards this matter because it has always allowed me to release my worries and frustrations and to overcome a lot of adversities in my life. When it gets hard to talk directly about some experience or episode, metaphors are always there to reach and to help us getting through pain. This way, stories play that role. Besides, it’s another link that can be created between distinct generations. I had the luck to have my grandmother telling me stories for me to fall asleep when I was a little kid. That’s a memory I won’t forget, that has already roots in me and that I intend to pass on. That’s why this one is of my favorite quotes, as well. Vitória Melo

** C. The "Stolen Generations", also known as "Stolen Children", "were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments. The removals occurred in the period between approximately 1869 and 1969, although in some places children were still being taken until the 1970s." ** ** 1. What was the social impact of such policies on those children? ** That is a harsh and cruel reality that I was not aware about. It's almost unbelievable to imagine children being taken from their families for more than 100 years..in spite they would not have been rich or have a high quality education, it was taken from them the right to be loved, have a home and be happy. Although it was a different situation, it reminds me of a Neil Young's song "There's one more kid that will never go to school / Never get to fall in love, never get to be cool". Emilia Mota We can't imagine those children pain, and we can't put ourselves in their skin because I wouldn't support to be taken away from my family, specially from my mother. as Emilia I wasn't aware of this before I've seen the film and it shocked me. It's cruel and dehuman. Mariana Ferreira

First of all there was that terrible impact in the natives. Many tribes disappear along with their dances, their languages, and their cultures. Secondly, as Mariana said we can’t imagine the suffering and the pain that they felt. And in addition, children got “no story and no dreaming in their heart”. For them, the walkabout was something only lived in their imagination because they didn’t get the change to do it, obviously. In conclusion, that polices, without regarding the aborigines habits, did horrible impacts in the children. Tiago

Things like this really leave a trauma not only on the families but on the kids too, being stripped away from their families and go to only god knows where without a mother or a father, just some "hole" in the middle of nowhere, it's something that they surely didn't deserve even more because they weren't the ones to blame, it wasn't they're fault that they were born how they were, we don't choose, we just come. Obviously it was wrong there's no justification that could make it right. Diogo Pinto 12F

This was an almost successful attempt of making aboriginal languages, traditions, knowledge, dances and spirituality vanish forever. By breaking the circle of their lives, the government hoped they could end Aboriginal culture within a short time and get rid of indigenous people. From malnutrition, starvation, sexual and physical abuse to the comparison that is made between the institutions aboriginal children were inserted in to the German concentration camps there are a lot more atrocities that lie in what is called “The Stolen Generations Records”. All of what was referred to contributed to the loss of a sense of self-identity, ability to dream, to hope, to trust and love. In fact, it gave rise to a horrifying wave of suicides and there is no word for “suicide” in the aboriginal languages. That because we could barely find a suicide rate above 2% in this people’s existence. Besides, parents who were stolen as kids are now passing on this trauma to their own children, which is another extend of the social damages this issue caused amongst aborigines. Vitória Melo

I can't begin to image what is like to grow up away from your family knowing that they are alive and that they miss you. The stolen generations show us that even tough the colonizers thought that they were doing the children a favor by educating them to live "properly", they were actually making their lives a living hell. This should be an example for humanity, we shouldn't try to civilize everyone, we should offer them a chance to improve themselves and if they refuse it is their problem. We have no right to take people against their will, no matter our opinion about what they do and what they believe in. Telmo 12E

** 2. How do you see the SORRY speech by Kevin Rudd on 13th February 2008? In your opinion, was it enough? **media type="youtube" key="b3TZOGpG6cM" width="382" height="315"

I think this apology came a little late. But better late than never. Although it was extremely important to Aboriginal culture this public apology, I think it has some sort of political interests. It is obvious that I am not putting into question the sincerity of this apology. Now I wonder: why is this apology only appeared in 2008? For example, in 2008 many aborigines, who were stolen from their families, had died. They also should have had access to a formal apology. Filipa Pina

A speech is not enough, it is not going to bring those children back, it will not make up for all the cruelties that were done to them. I don't know what was the political context and what were the true intentions of the Prime Minister with this speech, anyhow it is remarkable that he he was able to take the responsability and aopologize for something that he didn't do. That is the truth, he didn't do it so he could have done like many other before him and ignore the situation even longer. Fortunately, he did an honorable thing, that is the least he can do for Aborigine families. Emilia Mota

I share Emilia's opinion but there's a portugues quote which is 'Vale mais tarde que nunca.' and it fits here. Although an speech and a lot of deep words won't change anything it is an impressive behaviour that no one had taken before. I know it wasn't enough and it won't 'treat' every scar made, but it can help healing it. Mariana Ferreira

Well, at least they did something. It will not be enough to heal their wounds, even though it was a simple and very important action. It is a way to show the aborigines that they belong to the Australian history and that they can live there without any discrimination. Tiago

It's is never enough. I don't know how the aboriginal situation is nowadays in Australia, but I think that beyond this apologie the government should offer somekind of compansation and should assure the protection of these tribes. Rita Rebelo

It was a start, but he is apologizing for something he hasn't done, it would mean a lot more if it were the ones who did it that would apologize, of course that isn't possible so this was the best second choice...still it's not easy to make such a thing just go away...forgive and forget, it's easy to say not to do. In the end it was a good thing to do, make it will be able to make people feel more comfortable and start letting go of the past generations and focus more on the road ahead. ** Diogo Pinto 12F ** I agree that it wasn't enough of course. However, as I stated in class, this speech was, maybe, a speech those generations needed. It is good to feel that someone remembers you and what you've been through.. Even better, it is good to feel that someone has an idea of the suffer, understands it and feels the need to say sorry a thousand times. It's a feeling of understanding and recognition those generations may never had. Mariana Marques

I also think that it was not enought and that it does not erase anything or changes anything however, it shows that the government had thought about all of that poor people that were affected by all of this cruelty and decided to try to make them feel better. I also believe that this apoligy speech would make even more sense if they decide to take measures to offer protection to the aborigenal people. I like to believe that this speech represented a progesse and that from now on that kind of situations would never be tolerated. As Emilia said ate least they had not ignored this fact and faced it so it may be a start. Ana Paula 12E

No one else has had the guts to it, so I considered it a noble and bold attitude. Even if in a slight way it helped alleviating the pain lots of families underwent. We could see tears in the video that followed the speech. They were sad tears, of course, but some of them could then dry on their own, because before that those specific tears would mean anger at the lack of an apology. There is, certainly, a vortex of emotions within these people’s spirit, but at least this one can finally disappear. Vitória Melo

In my opinion the speech is not enough because there is nothing nowadays that they can do to repair the bonds that were shattered, the lifes that were taken or to return their lost pride. I now that back then the society mind was different but that is no excuse to not blame them. One thing is certain it was not anyone that was able to face the world and to say sorry to the injured ones. I admire the president of Australia because he was able to make a stand by, in a certain way, assuming responsabilities for the crimes he was not involved.

Filipe 12ºE


 * 3. How do you see the treatment given to the "Stolen Generations" given by Baz Luhrmann's in his film "AUSTRALIA"? **

I don't know how realistic their situation was portrayed in the film..nvertheless,the fact that this actually happened and not that long a ago is embarrassing for the human history.Any way of forcing someone to accepet a diferent culture, to denied one's identity is a shame, to the principals of church, that are the complete opposite. Rita Rebelo

Well i don't really remember how it is all portrayed in the film, what i remember is that they were striped away from their families which in my opinion just shows a really high level of cruelty, they are humans too, and to do such a thing, it just isn't right, much less justifiable. After they went to mission island, i think, nothing more is shown about their lifestyle there, at least i cant remember, still i doubt any of them would trade that for the comfort of their house and the love of their family. ** Diogo Pinto 12F ** I really liked that the narrative was told by an aborigenal child that was representing the stolen generations in the movie, i think that gives him an main role in the movie from the beggining which is quite interesting. Besides, the fact that the movie emphasizes Nullah's need to fit in one culture so that he could define himself and decide to where he belongs is also remarkable. It portrays the situation from the childrens point of view so we could feel their pain, fear and confusion in detail and realise how lost and discriminated this children were. All of the misticism that is created arround Nullah is also important because it show us how magic aborigenal culture is and that a children should not be deprived of chosing to accept and live it. Ana Paula 12E

Yes, I agree when Ana Paula says that the movie perspective plays a vital role, since it gives main light to an aboriginal child way of thinking, something that people were trying to deny them. We can notice a very realistic approach of the aboriginal culture and that’s why the film takes almost three hours. It’s extremely complete and it touches several aspects inherent to traditions, rituals, and ceremonies. The mission island “lock, lock” part is clarifying and significant as well as the walkabout references. Vitória Melo

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 * 4. The 2002 Australian film "Rabbit-Proof Fence", based on the book "Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" by Doris Pilkington Garimara, gives us an incredible and personal view of all the suffering involved in the forced half-caste children's removal from their families. Watch the trailer and state your opinion on it. **

I think this movie isn’t better than “Australia”, although it shows us also the European intention, which was to take care of the children, by taking them out from their families, so that they could receive an education. Therefore I think it also concerns the stolen children very well. Tiago

It's hard to understand what drives these men into forcing children to be away from there parents, from their world.. What's in it for them? They forget that they are people because they start seeing them as mean to reach their objectives. They live brutal lifes in the mission camps which leaves them with their only choice.. to escape. Rita Rebelo

From the trailer we realise it is a strong film with a heartbreaking story that is at the same time very real. It conveys the message that this children were considered less human or less worth of rights than any other human being which is simply intorable. The conditions that they were forced to face in the mission camps and the way they take them away from their land and their families catchs our attention and are facts that should catch everyones attention so that the situation will never be repeated. Besides,when they escape in the ending of the trailer we gain a feeling of hope and freedom which made me believe that maybe this kids were a exception and were able to partially change their situation. Ana Paula 12E

This movie seems to have a more violent and politic charge. Since it has more than one aboriginal child it we can see the treatment they were given a little bit enlarged. We can also attest to something that was also very common, the fact that many of the stolen children tried to run away but with limited success. I don’t know how the film ends but they usually didn’t see their parents again and were thrown into “white society” at the age of 18 with their brains completely washed out, marked by the numbness of pervasive despair. Vitória Melo

** 5. Now listen to the video recordings of the personal testimonies of Australia's Stolen Generations' Survivors [|Stolen Generations' Testimonies] ** Share your opinions, PLEASEEEE!:))

I listened to the story of Kennedy Edwards, in the begging he says that when the police took him and his brothers they stoped in the courthouse I though they would be heard by a judge, but no, it was the last day he saw his mother. It's incredible how the court changes the story to fit the right criteria. The story of Joan Slury also touched me, she was taking away as a little girl to a mission camp, she was separeted from her own people. And then was taken from there by a couple how she calls nice, but who made her work. But she broke the cicle, she had a family of their own and made sure she raised them. Rita Rebelo

I chose Michael Hannah’s testimony and what I found most impressive was the time when he talks about his loneliness because for me is harsh to picture a kid without his parents, family and home. The scars in his life are evident in his voice and the way he builds his speech. Something that gets totally understandable when we are made aware of the physical abuse he was submitted to by a missionary. Vitória Melo

** II. TIME FOR EVALUATION:(( Please, check the test matrix! If you have any doubts, contact me! **