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Urgent action MPs' signatures needed to support EDM 1000

On 21 February 2008 EDM 1000 was tabled in the British parliament

MPs' signatures needed to support EDM 1000

Apology to the Stolen Generations from Australia's PM Kevin Rudd photo courtesy Katrina Mathieson/eniar

Begins
Indigenous Australians
That this House recalls Great Britain's role in the colonisation, settlement and early governance of Australia;  acknowledges Great Britain's responsibility for the suffering and degradation inflicted on indigenous Australians including the removal of indigenous human remains and material culture; supports the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, in his apology to the stolen generations and other indigenous Australians for the pain, loss, deprivation and abuse they have suffered; recognises the continuing strength and  vitality of the indigenous peoples of Australia and their culture; supports the Australian government's commitment to recognising the special status of Australia's indigenous peoples and tackling the inequalities still facing indigenous Australians.
Ends
link to EDM

It is important that as many MPs as possible add their names to EDM 1000, to acknowledge Britain's role and to show a decent level of support from the British Parliament for the Apology and the new process of respect and equality of opportunities.  Any MP can add their signature to an EDM to show their support. Peers cannot sign.

Source: House of Commons Westminister

what you can do

1.Please email your MP TODAY requesting that they sign the EDM - see text below

2.Ask your friends/contacts to do the same. 

If you don't know your MP's name or address, look it up on Alphabetical list of UK MPs at the Parliament website.

SPEED IS VITAL TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF THE APOLOGY and maximise the number of signatures.

suggested text for letter to your MP

Dear (insert name) MP

Indigenous Australians

I am writing [as a constituent] [because of your interest in human rights issues] [as an Indigenous Australian] to request that you sign the following Early Day Motion 1000 of 21 February, which has been tabled by Jeremy Corbyn, Katy Clark, Ann Cryer,  Nia Griffth, Kelvin Hopkins and Peter Kilfoyle

Begins
That this House recalls Great Britain's role in the colonisation, settlement and early governance of Australia;  acknowledges Great Britain's responsibility for the suffering and degradation inflicted on indigenous Australians including the removal of indigenous human remains and material culture; supports the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, in his apology to the stolen generations and other indigenous Australians for the pain, loss, deprivation and abuse they have suffered; recognises the continuing strength and  vitality of the indigenous peoples of Australia and their culture; supports the Australian government's commitment to recognising the special status of Australia's indigenous peoples and tackling the inequalities still facing indigenous Australians.
Ends

I consider it important that Britain, with its historic role in Australia, gives formal recognition and support to the  momentous apology offered by the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week for the grief and suffering inflicted on Australia's  Indigenous peoples, especially the Stolen Generations of children removed from their families and communities.

I would much welcome the news that you too have set your name to this historic process.

More information on this and other Indigenous Australian issues is available on www.eniar.org

Yours sincerely

ends/

Other EDM's relating to Indigenous Australia:

• EDM 1000 (2008) - Indigenous Australians
• EDM 210 (2007) - British based mining companies
• EDM 558 (2004) - mourns the death of Australian aboriginal, Molly Kelly
• EDM 927 (2000) - Centenary of Australia
  

Further information: stolen generations and 'sorry' issues page - includes news index and external links

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