Home Australia Calls for Aussies to pay voluntary reparations ahead of ‘Invasion Day’ – as Tony Armstrong says it’s ‘time everyone starts redistributing’ the wealth and hits back at racist trolls

Calls for Aussies to pay voluntary reparations ahead of ‘Invasion Day’ – as Tony Armstrong says it’s ‘time everyone starts redistributing’ the wealth and hits back at racist trolls

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ABC golden boy Tony Armstrong is encouraging Australians to right the wrongs of the nation's colonial past by making weekly, voluntary reparations to the country's indigenous population.

Former ABC News Breakfast star Tony Armstrong has urged Australians to right the wrongs of the nation’s colonial past, backing a campaign calling on people to pay weekly voluntary reparations to the country’s indigenous population.

The 35-year-old television personality supported First Nations Futures’ #WealthBack campaign as she posted about the project on social media Thursday while responding to racist trolls.

The campaign aims to raise at least $400,000 for projects in indigenous communities by calling on people to make “weekly or monthly” donations as a “recurring co-investment” while also taking “an active step in wealth redistribution.”

In his promotional material, he encouraged non-Indigenous Australians to recognize the inequality of the nation and the economic benefit they had received by “living in so-called ‘Australia'” to the continued “detriment of First Nations peoples”.

“On the eve of Invasion Day (January 26), First Nations Futures calls on all people who have benefited from the ongoing colonization of First Nations lands to #WEALTHBACK,” explains First Nations Futures on the campaign office’s website.

‘#WEALTHBACK means taking into account past and present mistakes and participating in returning the wealth that has been taken. It recognizes the economic benefit that people living in so-called “Australia” have obtained from colonization.

‘Land theft, slavery and the continued refusal of governments and individuals to address this have created immense wealth inequality in so-called “Australia”, to the continued benefit of settlers and to the detriment of First Nations people.

‘It is time for all people to move beyond empty gestures and address the truth that this country was formed from the theft of First Nations land and wages.

ABC golden boy Tony Armstrong is encouraging Australians to right the wrongs of the nation’s colonial past by making weekly, voluntary reparations to the country’s indigenous population.

The 35-year-old television personality has supported the #WealthBack campaign that wants to draw attention to the

The 35-year-old television personality has supported the #WealthBack campaign that wants to draw attention to the “economic benefit that people living in so-called “Australia” have obtained from colonization.”

‘Through widespread, active and recurring wealth redistribution, our campaign offers a tangible and meaningful way for all people to participate in the collective movement towards justice.

‘#WEALTHBACK is: Consider the history of stolen wealth and how it influences current wealth; Return wealth that has been taken from First Nations communities; Repair past mistakes and pave the way for a collective future based on justice.’

Campaign organizers said they hoped to raise $400,000 “to support our First Nations partners in continuing their integral work for community and country” and “see 250 new people sign up to our funding platform online.” recurring and redistribute $5 (or more) per week’.

The site’s funding page recommends that people make weekly donations of between $15 and $100, monthly donations of between $30 and $200, or “one-time” payments of between $50 and $1,000.

Organizers said it was up to all Australians to “take responsibility” for redressing the nation’s financial power imbalance.

“The continuing impacts of colonization have created an uneven playing field, where all people living in Australia continually benefit economically from the colonization of First Nations lands and peoples,” the campaign website says.

‘The effects have meant that non-Indigenous people have disproportionate power and access to wealth and resources.

‘While many First Nations community-driven initiatives do not have the sustainable resources to drive the change they wish to see.

‘Our communities have been advocating, campaigning and implementing solutions on the ground for generations with limited resources.

“It is up to everyone in Australia to take responsibility and redistribute wealth and power in a meaningful and ongoing way.”

The two-time Logie winner became one of the country's most recognizable television stars during his three years on the ABC's News Breakfast show.

The two-time Logie winner became one of the country’s most recognizable television stars during his three years on the ABC’s News Breakfast show.

Armstrong, who has become one of the country’s most recognizable TV stars since moving from AFL to the small screen, backed the campaign in his post.

“I think it’s time for everyone to start redistributing, ayyy,” he wrote under an image of the campaign poster.

Armstrong continued to post responses to some of his critics on social media while also highlighting some of the nasty (and racist) comments he is forced to endure online.

“I love living for free in these loser heads,” he wrote in response to a user who posted a photo of himself next to them while commenting, “This smug idiot is annoying.” A fucking ego, bitch.’

When that post received a racist response, he posted it too, saying, “I’m in a bad mood today.”

Other users quickly came to Armstrong’s defense and added comments like ‘Wow.’ Another racist trying to attack a great guy.’

The two-time Logie winner is currently starring in a six-part series for public broadcasting after leaving ABC’s News Breakfast last October.

Explaining his decision to step away from the show, he said he felt it was the right time to focus on “slower things” rather than maintaining the fast, non-stop pace of daily news.

The popular presenter laughed at some of the negative comments he attracts on the networks

The popular presenter laughed at some of the negative comments he attracts on the networks

‘Breakfast news, or news, as we all know, you are tied to a desk. So you always have to come back to something,” Armstrong explained to the panel.

‘It’s harder to think more slowly. So I’m working on some things like that.

“I won’t be on TV as much as I used to. But I’ll be around.

He sparked controversy last month after a promo for his new factual series, titled Eat The Invaders, which debuted on ABC last week.

The series investigates whether eating invasive species such as carp, deer, camels and cane toads could be a “tasty solution” to safeguarding Australia’s native biodiversity from foreign pests.

In the trailer, Armstrong is seen holding a notoriously toxic cane toad, with a large knife placed precariously over the creature.

‘But what if we could help? Reimagining this problem as an interesting solution,” asks Armstrong.

ABC star Tony Armstrong criticized for suggesting Australians consider eating cane toads

ABC star Tony Armstrong criticized for suggesting Australians consider eating cane toads

The series is expected to feature six meals, each focusing on a specific invasive species as the main ingredient.

However, in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Carol Booth, senior policy analyst at the Invasive Species Council, condemned the idea of ​​eating cane toads, which were introduced to Australia in 1938, and their population increased from 102 more toads. of 200 million.

Dr Booth said that while the idea of ​​consuming invasive species might be well-intentioned, it could actually make the situation worse.

“It’s an attractive argument and the intentions are good, but believing that eating Australia’s invasive species will solve the problem is unrealistic and could exacerbate it,” Dr Booth said.

“The show, by presenting these animals as food, risks making their presence more desirable, creating a dangerous paradox that could lead to the further spread of some species.”

Dr. Booth added that the Invasive Species Council had raised the issue with series producers, but their efforts went unheeded.

‘This is something that the Invasive Species Council brought to the creators of the program when it was just a concept. “Unfortunately, our biology-based message was not as delightful,” he said.

Award-winning presenter says he left daily news to focus on 'slower' long-term projects

Award-winning presenter says he left daily news to focus on ‘slower’ long-term projects

First Nations Futures was created three years ago to “respond to the economic barriers that First Nations community initiatives face within funding systems.”

“The journey of First Nations Futures has been slow, intentional and has included many stories and workshops with First Nations leaders and youth along the way,” it said on its websites.

‘Throughout these conversations, we focused on exploring and co-designing a financing mechanism that could facilitate long-term wealth redistribution, unrestricted financing and First Nations self-determination.

“While understanding our reach and impact model, linked by cultural values, ethics of stewardship and investment in our future generations.”

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