The Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd issued a historic apology today to thousands of impoverished British children shipped to Australia with the promise of a better life, triggering calls for compensation for the abuse and neglect that many suffered. Approximately 150,000 British children may have been shipped over a period of 350 years through programs run by the government, religious groups and children's charities. The relocations were touted as a way to give the children a chance at life--and to keep the British Empire supplied with white workers in its outposts. Many of the children ended up in institutions where they labored as farm hands ore were physically or sexually abused. The program formally ended 40 years ago; approximately 7,000 survivors of the program who still live in Australia.
WoW...I had no idea this ever happened. Britain should be ashamed of itself taking children away from their families like that. This sounds like slavery or at least indent ured servitude.
ReplyDeleteWell this is one of Britain's many dirty little secrets. We reduced the burden of the poor on Britain whilst giving slave workers to Australia. We also exported many of our criminals and lunatics to Australia. I almost feel sorry for Australia but they are making up for it by discriminating against their minorities. That's one of their dirty little secrets. How they treat Aborigines and Asians is appalling.
ReplyDelete--Black Brit