Kevin Rudd

Real men swear

Today, in Australia, it is National Swear Day. I consider it my responsibility to swear today.

Men across Australia are being asked to swear an oath that commits them to never commit or excuse violence against women. The My Oath website has full details on why we should swear and lets men take part in the campaign.

National Swear Day has the support of high profile men such as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Lt Gen Ken Gillespie, Hazem El Masri, Rove, Keith Urban, Wil Anderson, David Koch, Adam Goodes, Shannon Noll, Jason Culina, Dicko, and many others.

Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has labelled violence against women the most prevalent violation of human rights on the planet. And Australia is far from immune. Currently, one in three Australian women experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Every single one of us knows a women who has suffered its effects, whether we know it or not. These women are our mothers, daughters, our wives, our girlfriends, colleagues and friends. By supporting this campaign you are helping to ensure that Australia becomes a safer place for all women, and their children.

The day is part of the White Ribbon Campaign. Today is also White Ribbon Day, and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Australian men are urged to visit the My Oath website and follow the links to swear the following:

I swear:
never to commit violence against women,
never to excuse violence against women, and
never to remain silent about violence against women.
This is my oath.

Violence against women is never acceptable. Please swear today.

If you enjoyed this post please use the buttons above to share.

KEVIN37

Mar 11th, 2009

by Rodney Olsen.

5 comments

Today’s the day that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s second economic stimulous package starts getting rolled out to the Australian public.

Kogan Technologies has taken advantage of the stimulous package and created some magnificent marketing. They’ve launched the Kogan Technologies KEVIN37 HD LCD TV. It’s been carefully designed to coincide with the government handout and the TVs will be ready to be shipped to customers next month. The cost of these televisions is only $900, the exact amount that many Australians will be given by the government.

Celebrate the Australian Government’s stimulus package with the Kogan KEVIN37.

The Kogan KEVIN37 in conjunction with the government bonus is a great combination for Australian’s looking for an affordable home entertainment solution.

Bring your living room into the digital age with the Kogan KEVIN37. Featuring a High Definition 37″ LCD Panel, Built in High Definition Tuner and HDMI input, it’s sure to suit every need.

The Kogan KEVIN37 LCD HDTV will also ship with a free promotional t-shirt.

I don’t think we’ll be taking advantage of the offer but I reckon it’s a case of very clever marketing.

Are you getting money from Mr Rudd? Have you decided what you’ll do with your slice of the pie?

If you enjoyed this post please use the buttons above to share.

Sorry

Feb 13th, 2008

by Rodney Olsen.

2 comments

Today is an incredibly important day in the history of Australia.

This is the apology that will be made to Australia’s Indigenous community in Federal Parliament, Canberra, today.

Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were stolen generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these stolen generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed. A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.