#TweetYarn~Close the Gap Day, 20 March 2014

• Are you interested in Closing the Gap on Indigenous life expectancy?
• Do you want to be involved in an online Close the Gap storytelling event?
• Perhaps you thinking of joining Twitter but just haven’t got around to it yet?

How about joining in a collaborative #TweetYan on Close the Gap Day 2014?

I created #Tweetyarns in 2013 - explanation here, and an example here : Maisie May

Statistically I can expect to die nearly 20 years earlier than most of the people I am favouriting and retweeting.

Indigenous Australians are 2.7% of the population, however this small minority grooup cannot expect the life span of the majority of the population.

And if some people have their way, I should not expect to live any or all of a life free of hostility and abuse. Some prefer an Australia where some of us live on guard for abuse and must be prepared to fight back. 

But it wont be everyone who will be expected to be in robust debates on street corners, online and in print. Some can expect to never be targeted for hostility and persecution. But that hasn’t prevented a few from preferring that 'other’s' not be provided with the means for a life free of racial vilification and humiliation.

And what are the effects of this?

If you are a human being?  They are horrendous. It will make you fear for not only your life, but your child’s and your entire family. It will make your workplace more stressful. You are vulnerable physically, and it will impact on your financial security. You will avoid using public transport. There are places you will not go because they are danger zones. Sporting events will provide reminders that Australia is a country where young and old will scream abuse and threats even if they have never met you, and they will do it for fun.

If your holding an event make sure you use #ClosetheGapDay! Thanks for all the support!
— Close the Gap (@closethegapOZ) March 19, 2014

Collaborative #TweetYarn


Theme: Racism – It Makes Me Sick

• To make Close the Gap Day memorable this year I’ll be looking for tweets that include the #CloseTheGapDay hashtag.

• I’ll be looking for passages, lines of poetry, photos, links and thoughts that I can weave into one narrative appearing on my TL from noon till dusk. (east coast time) 
• I will also include selected tweets from my timeline. 

This is an example

On Twitter at last, and can't think of a thing to say. Some writer I turned out to be.
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 6, 2013

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
— Tough Women (@Tough_Women) March 19, 2014

Jolene, Jolene , Jolene JOLENE! I'm begging you please…
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) March 10, 2014

Our lives are intense, complicated & busy. Mob - sit in country listen to Mother Earth & allow spirit direct your future.
— Paul Dutton (@pauldutton1968) March 19, 2014

On the front steps listening to the cicadas (not much frog yarning tonight), contemplating the mix of… http://t.co/GDwdWyjWhE
— Leesa Watego (@leesawatego) March 17, 2014

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. And the world will live as one” - John Lennon.
— Book Quotes (@BookQuotesHere) March 17, 2014

@SivParker I'm sure it's basically the same everywhere, Siv. It's just wrapped differently
— Donald Cottner (@dc_designworks) March 19, 2014

"The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities." ~Sophocles
— Lydia Aswolf-Carey (@LydiaAswolf) March 19, 2014

If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way.
— Need to be Healthy (@healthforppl) March 19, 2014

@SivParker She's had extraordinary success & works very hard for it. Here's a more recent pic... She's a lovely kid. pic.twitter.com/MlGxSJ4uCr
— Jane Cattermole (@janecat60) March 17, 2014

Emily Cattermole (pictured) may be first Indigenous supermodel

Talking points ...

“@SivParker: Racial discrimination: groups unite against ‘morally repugnant’ law changes http://t.co/MuOshZIDVv via @guardian”@NACCHO_CEO
— Aboriginal Health (@NACCHOAustralia) March 18, 2014

“@beyondblue: What are the impacts of racism on Aboriginal health? http://t.co/1RNm4mC8Ba Via @NACCHO_CEO @warrenmundine @marcialangton
— Aboriginal Health (@NACCHOAustralia) March 17, 2014

Royal Comm into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody found racial hatred/vilification causes emotional/psychological harm. #keep18C @congressmob
— Kirstie Parker (@kirstiecongress) March 19, 2014

Interesting study on impact of racism on health: http://t.co/2sIHttFhNx
— Marcia Langton (@marcialangton) March 19, 2014

Official Close the Gap social media resources ...

 Oxfam Australia

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