Blog 10: Rabbit-Proof Fence

Human rights have always been a problem in our world today and in history, taking place in different parts around the world, holding different situations, as well as taking place at different times... However, whoever was being affected never gave up to stand up for them, which makes our world so much stronger today!

In "Rabbit-Proof Fence", Aboriginal populations face injustices as the European settlers begin to colonize the western coast of Australia. The entire Aboriginal population realized that the arrival of the European settlers meant "the destruction of their traditional society and the dispossession of their lands" (Pilkington 13). The Europeans were pushing the Aboriginals away from their lands, not noticing that they were taking everything away from them, especially going against their individual rights...

While the Aboriginal population was being held in one area by the Europeans, the Nyungar people were cut off from their natural food source, hoping that maybe some of the white people would give them a portion of their food. However, Molly's uncle, Moody, explained and reminded the Nyungar peoplethat "when an old man Udja complained to the magistrate that a white man stole his wife, Nella, he was given a bag of flour and told to go home... That old man expected the same form of justice under the white man's law. He never got it" (Pilkington 15). This incident shows that the "Right to Equality Before the Law" and the "Freedom from Discrimination" was being violated. The Aboriginal population was being treated more strictly than the European settlers, even if it was their land. They had their food taken away, and when they wanted to get something back from  the white people, they couldn't; the Europeans thought that they were much more superior than the Aboriginals and could control them. This was probably happening because of the differences in race, but it shouldn't have if they were following the laws...


Another incident happened when Bidgup and Meedo wanted to go down their hunting trails, in search of fresh food. They weren't allowed to go any farther than what they saw in front of them because the trails are all blocked by fences. Meedo explained that "when [they] climbed over the fence, one of those men pointed one of those things- guns- at [them] and threatened to shoot [them] if [they] went in there again" (Pilkington 14). The Aboriginal population, nevertheless the Nyungar people, weren't allowed to walk on their land, wherever they please. They were told to stay in one area, the area within the fences. Even though the two tribe members wanted to go hunting, they couldn't. This was clearly a violation of the "Right to Own Property" and the "Right to Free Movement...". The native tribe members weren't allowed to walk on their own soil, which was taken by the Europeans. It was a separation of land between the Aboriginals and the Europeans. Not only did they take all of the fertile land for themselves, but they left the Aboriginals with nothing, only that of what they gave them, which wasn't much. According the the law, this was not allowed, but the law was still broken...

Finally, the Aboriginal culture was always being threatened. The native tribe remembers "the corroborrees and songs that they were forbidden to dance and sing" unless they were forced to do so by the government officials (Pilkington 16)."...The corroborrees [they] shared and danced by scores of feet" would be left in the dust surrounded by the moonlight of the open fire, "warriors with painted bodies and plumes of feathers on their... heads" would be lost, forgotten, and left in the past, and "important dates on their seasonal calendars" would be gone. Every little part of their culture was being taken away from them and always being limited to their growth, as well as what it could become. Their traditions and beliefs were always at the risk of disappearance. No matter how hard the Aboriginals tried to keep the characteristics of their culture and who they are intact, it was always being forced to change by the Europeans. They were always being torn apart from their population and culture, and this only showed the violation of the "Right to Participate in the Cultural Life of the Community", the "Freedom of Belief and Religion", and the "Right to a Nationality...". Maintaining their culture was always a struggle for them, all because the Europeans were always interfering with it...

This, what had happened with Australia and its Aboriginals, mirrors many events and situations that have happened in the United States. In Australia, the European settlers thought that everything that they did was necessary and appropriate for the country's growth, thinking that they were "civilizing" it. However, they were doing quite the opposite; they were ruining the country, stopping it from evolving into something more, something that it could be in the future.

The Manifest Destiny was the 19th century belief that the United States was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic Seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. They thought they could change the country, more like the world. This same exact belief stretches back even farther into history, way back when Christopher Columbus "sailed the ocean blue", Spanish monarchs were taking over, and pilgrims were still trying to find their way... The Native Americans, much like the Aboriginals, were having everything taken away from them, their food, their culture, but most importantly, their land. They were treated like dirt, like they were nothing and didn't matter. However, they never gave up on their beliefs and their strength to keep moving forward, no matter how many rights they were being taken away. Those rights were exactly the same ones as the Aboriginals and many more; they weren't treated fairly compared to others, they were being moved out of their land, and their culture was always being questioned...
Many events that happen in history mirror those of other events at other time periods, just like in Australia and in the United States.

Every situation has its own purpose, and every situation has some solution. However, not every solution fits the the purpose of the situation... (As confusing as that may sound...)
Let's take, for example, what had happened in Australia. Children were being taken away from their families, from their mothers, but why? Was it justified to do this? Some might defend that the actions of the government were morally justified, especially the relocating of children of mixed descent. However, I personally believe that this was wrong, in every way, shape, and form. Even though children may have been relocated for what was thought as "better", it wasn't at all. Children were being taken away from their mothers and families. At this point, it didn't matter what race or culture they were; all that mattered was the fact that they were being relocated. This wasn't justified at all, even by the government, or at least I think so... What do you think?

Aboriginals in Australia and Native Americans in the United States are two very different but similar cultures and tribes, not only in traditions and beliefs, but most importantly, in what they went through in the past. They faced tough times, physically and emotionally. But, they never gave up! And that's how far the world has come today...
If something is meaningful to a person, that person won't stop, rather keep going until they're satisfied with the outcome!

Blog 9: Invasive Species

Have you ever heard of a Cane Toad?
Maybe yes, maybe no... Either way, I haven't... And you might not even know that it's an invasive species in Australia!

Also known as the Giant Toad or the Marine Toad, the Cane Toad is very tough and adaptable, as well as poisonous throughout its life cycle, and only has a few predators in Australia, making it very invasive to the lands... Especially to the native amphibians of Australia.

The Cane Toad is very large, heavily-built amphibian with very dry, warty skin. They have a bony head, as well as bony ridges that are right above their eyes and meet above their nose. Their hind feet have leathery webbing between the toes, while their front feet aren't webbed at all. They sit upright and move in short, rapid hops. Cane Toads appear in a couple of colors... They're usually gray, yellowish, olive-brown, or even reddish-brown, and their bellies are pale with dark specks, and their average size is about 15 cm...

These interesting amphibians are usually found ranging from the southern part of North America to the tropics of South America. However, in the early 1930s, Cane Toads were introduced to Australia from Hawaii in order to control the pests of sugar canes, including beetles. Ever since then, the Cane Toads have been breeding and spreading drastically all over Australia, totaling in about 200 million, and are now considered a major invasive species to the lands.

Cane Toads excrete poison, that is not only harmful and toxic to humans, but to the native animals as well. Other animal species that have not adapted to the presence of the Cane Toads don't have a chance to fight back when they're being attacked, and the Cane Toads' predators die off. These poisonous frogs are killing off many species on the continent, as soon enough, a numerous amount of species will be gone forever!
Many scientists have been biologically affecting the breeding process of these toads, as well as notifying the public by using quarantine checks and awareness announcements in order to inform people of these dangerous, toxic toads.

Cane Toads are a perfect example of an invasive species in Australia, just like the Citrus Long-horned Beetle is an invasive species here, in the United States...

The Citrus Long-horned Beetle is native to Japan, China, and Korea, where it is considered a pest, among many others. Infestations by the beetle can kill many different types of hardwood trees, as well as citrus trees, pecan, apple, Australian pine, hibiscus, sycamore, willow, pear, mulberry, pigeon pea, Chinaberry, poplar, litchi, kumquat, Japanese red cedar, oak, and ficus.

The Citrus Long-horned Beetle poses a threat to the environment in North America, mostly because it attacks healthy trees and has no natural enemies. Not only are greenbelts, urban landscapes and backyard trees at jeopardy, but also orchards, forests, and endangered salmon, and wildlife habitat. This invasive species was first spotted on bonsai trees that were imported from China in 1999 in Georgia. There were three female beetles spotted and captured that were ready to lay eggs, but after a while of research, eight larvae tunnels were found in the bonsai tree that were built as exit tunnels... That meant that five Citrus Long-Horned Beetles escaped into the surrounding community, leading to thousands more of beetles. This species has become a threat to the United States, but many scientists and people have been keeping them compact in one place.

As you can see, not only are there invasive species here in the United Stated, but also in Australia, which can all lead to major types of harm in many different ways! We need to watch out for invasive species, because we never know where they're from or what they do to harm the community...
In other words, invasive species are bad to the country!

Blog 8: Exploring Oceans

 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM

1. The Great Barrier Reef is considered the "largest living structure on Earth".
It's known for its incredible size and biodiversity in several species of animals. Many different types of coral are home to even more types of different animals... The Great Barrier Reef is amazing, from top to bottom!

2. What compound does coral extract from the ocean to make solid tentacles?
Calcium carbonate is extracted from the ocean, the compound that is used to make tentacles. These solid tentacles aid in feeding habits, in which a diet varies from small fish to plankton.


3. How does red algae impact the structure of coral?

Whenever you see pictures of the Great Barrier Reef, you usually see many clumps of various species of coral in one area. These corals are connected and usually grow in size all together. Acting like pink glue, red algae cements several fragments of coral to other coral, creating a humongous structure of different types of coral. If it weren't for red algae, species of coral would just be growing on its own in random spots of the ocean. With the help of this extraordinary red algae, the ocean looks beautiful with colorful coral every inch on the bottom of the ocean.

4. What year did the Great Barrier Reef become a national park?
The Great Barrier Reef became a national site, to be preserved, in 1975. Even though it became a national park, it doesn't necessarily mean it's protected from danger all the time. The environment and fishing are still hazards to the reef, that are trying to be eliminated, all in order to protect the diverse amount of species and life underwater.

5. What percentage of the reef is protected from fishing?
Out of the entire Great Barrier Reef, only 33% of the reef is currently protected from fishing. As you can see, this is a very small portion of water being protected in comparison to the entire Great Barrier Reef.

 
6. How old do scientists believe the CURRENT reef is? The ANCIENT reef? 
Studies have shown that there are two reefs on top of each other located in the Great Barrier Reef, the current one as well as the one buried underneath it. The current reef is thought to be 20,000 years old, and the ancient reef is thought to be about 1/2 million years old! 

The Great Barrier Reef is astonishing in many, many ways... However, it's very old and fragile, and something like this must be protected from all danger in the world. Before you know it, it may disappear... and that could be either today, tomorrow, or in a couple of years. No one knows for sure, so we must act now!