Reflective Evaluation of Australian Aboriginals - Essay Example

Reflective Evaluation Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Reflective Evaluation The Aboriginals of Australia underwent tremendous affiliations from the colonialists. The colonialist imposed and implemented harsh policies to the indigenous clans in a bid to take over their land and rule them. The Aboriginals were killed, their land was taken from them, and they were tortured and despised due to their culture. The greatest hit was through the Stolen Generation policy by the government. The children of the Aboriginals were taken away from them and taken to the colonist’s centres such as missionary churches. The government wanted to change the children’s ways by teaching them new culture from the West. The West was believed to have people with developed capabilities, high thinking capacities, people who had great ideas and would do extra ordinary things. The Captain, Cook without any consent from the inhabitants of the Aboriginal land, declared it a colony under then British king George III. Most of them died due to the hardships brought about by the colonizers. The treatment of the Aboriginals by the British generates great deviation from the ethics of an engineer. Communication with them has to promote integrity, promote their rights and provide light for future space in political and economical world. The reflective evaluation investigating the treatment of the Aboriginals in Australia in relation to the ethics of an engineer is what lies in our discussion. Investigating the History of the Treatment of Indigenous Australians over the Last Century The Aboriginals refers to the earliest existing creatures or organisms. In Australia, they are believed to have existed millions of years ago. This was before colonial invasion. The Aboriginals had a systematic way of life. They got their food mostly from hunting and gathering on the main land. They moved from place to place, depending on the climate and availability of food and resources. The movement was done seasonally. During a certain season they would move to a more fertile land and live there for some time until the former land would become fertile, which they would go back to. Studies of the indigenous people showed that trade existed between clans. Some had temporary settlements while others had permanent. According to early studies from excavations, the lands where these Aborigines’ lived could support very large populations exceeding hundred thousands. This is because there were very many resources in the lands which were controlled by their nomadic form of life (Stephen, 2006). The entry of the British colonialists in Australia brought drastic changes to the Aboriginals. Drastic changes occurred to the indigenous clans, mostly the introduction of diseases. Smallpox was the most dangerous disease and caused the deaths of most people and hence a decrease in the population of the Aboriginals. Other diseases included malaria, and tuberculosis. The introduction of such diseases caused great changes in their lives. The indigenous people had no strong immunity to handle and fight such dangerous diseases; the diseases therefore killed so many people. Their number therefore decreased rapidly and therefore the colonialists were able to fight and rule the Aboriginals easily. A theory had been created that the British colonizers had come with this virus so as to suppress the indigenous groups. Rules imposed by the Australian government caused difficulties to the aboriginals. The government wanted them to behave and live like the non- Aboriginals. They could not leave their culture for this and hence the ruling party by then demoralized them. Attempts to fight for their land and their rights got no yields. The ruling party infact refused the recognition of Aboriginal rights by the body governing the right of humans in the world. This refusal was however reversed by the succeeding ruling regime. They recognized some of the Aboriginals rights but return of their land was still a scandal. The relationship between the Aboriginals and the non-Aboriginals remained cold (Stephen, 2006). There existed an economic war between the Aboriginals and the British colonizers. This war was due to the natural resources and land that needed to be occupied by the British. Each of them wanted to be economically stable and suppressing the other. Due to the power of the British colonizers, they were able to take over almost all the natural resources. The British however were not conversant with the lifestyle of the Aboriginals, especially their food. They imported crops and animals like cows and sheep and created farms for them. Aboriginals were made to work in these farms. Indigenous foods included roots, kangaroos, buffaloes, ants among others. There was little fight for food in areas where agriculture could not take place. The farming done by the indigenous people was the means of food for the native animals that existed by then such as kangaroos. The kangaroos would sneak into the farms, eat to their fill and go back to the bushes (Stephen, 2006). Impact of the History of the Treatment of Indigenous Australians upon the Ethical Practice of an Engineer An engineer has role of upholding great decency, honesty and truth in all operations. Their role should be to ensure the safety of everyone, so that each person has a conducive environment. Engineers ought to pass on their skills and knowledge to the people and ensure the same ethics are upheld. They have to provide both moral and material support to the people and also related institutions. They should aim at being fair in their works and truthful to their clients and employers (Layton, 1986) The history of the Aboriginals treatment in relation to the ethical practice of an engineer, contradicts most of their ethics. An engineer yearns to protect the rights of the majority and ensuring that everyone is happy with the environment around him or her (William, 2009). Engineer’s works by preventing by any means retrogressive works aimed at demoralizing humans and creating a crude environment. As an engineer dealing with the Aboriginals, I should target at making peoples life easy and comfortable. This is contrary to the treatment of the Aboriginals by the government of Australia. This is because this ruling party created division between the indigenous and the non-indigenous. It created chaos instead of creating peace among its citizens. As an engineer, one should work to make everyone equal and safe from discrimination of all means. (Layton, 1986) In relation to the ethics of an engineer, the British went contrary to protection human rights. The British quest for economic power from a minority group goes against the codes of ethics of an engineer (Layton, 1986). . The main ideals of an engineer are to uphold at all costs the health and safety measures for the public. The British introduced diseases which caused harm to the Aboriginals. Influence Of The History Of The Treatment Of Indigenous Australians To Communication Between An Engineer And The Aboriginal Communities During the colonial period, the Aboriginals had a way of life that suited them, and required no modifications. Aboriginals had a systematic way of living as they inhabited their land according to seasons. Entry of the British Captain and his fleets brought a radical change to all the ways of living of the indigenous clans. They however did not lose their culture. As an engineer, I am intended to uphold high levels of understanding and support to the majority. Aboriginals were deprived of their land, their economic resources and also their political rights. The work of activists, lawyers, and representatives of the indigenous communities is to fight for the rights of their fellow colleagues. My profession rules me to ensure an environment free from abuse. While using my ethics in communicating with the Aboriginals, I should reflect on the need for their land, political, and economical rights to be respected accordingly. I should be able to promote safety, and awareness to all the indigenous groups educating them on the right procedures of requesting for their freedom. The aim of an engineer should be creating a happy home for everyone irrespective of culture, political interests, economic standards and religious beliefs. I ought to be empathetic and understand their sufferings so that I am able to create a common ground for all so as to help them work towards a certain goal. Conclusion The life of the indigenous communities before the coming of the British colonists was systematic defined by their strong culture. They had a language between the various clans. They also had trade as an economic activity between clans. They ate foods such as roots, kangaroos, and ants. Some were nomadic while others had permanent locations. Nomadic Aboriginals moved and relocated places according to seasons. Entry of the British colonist brought drastic changes to the way of life of the Aboriginals. The British fleets came with viruses of certain diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, and small pox. Smallpox was the most dominant and it killed so many indigenous people leading to decrease in their population. The colonialist took over their land and claimed territory over every natural resource they had. British did not now the ways of the Aboriginals and hence ate imported crops and animals. British colonists and the last’s century government contradicted most of the ethics of an engineer. An engineer is supposed to target the freedom and equal rights for every individual. The safety of the majority and a happy environment are an engineer’s priority. Engineers should offer material and moral support to the people. It is their responsibility to pass on their knowledge and skill to others. The harsh treatments of the indigenous communities influence the ethics of engineering. Using the ethics of engineering, I should engage their activists in indulging in proper and effective way of gaining back their land, political, and economic standards. References Layton, E. (1986). The revolt of the engineers: Social responsibilities and the American engineering profession. Baltimore, Maryland, USA; the Johns Hopkins Hospital University Press. 6-7. Stephen, S. (2006). Race and ethnicity: Culture, identity and representation. New York, Routledge. William B.J. (2009). The Aboriginals and half-castes of Central and North Australia. Melbourne. Government Printer. Read More

Rules imposed by the Australian government caused difficulties to the aboriginals. The government wanted them to behave and live like the non- Aboriginals. They could not leave their culture for this and hence the ruling party by then demoralized them. Attempts to fight for their land and their rights got no yields. The ruling party infact refused the recognition of Aboriginal rights by the body governing the right of humans in the world. This refusal was however reversed by the succeeding ruling regime.

They recognized some of the Aboriginals rights but return of their land was still a scandal. The relationship between the Aboriginals and the non-Aboriginals remained cold (Stephen, 2006). There existed an economic war between the Aboriginals and the British colonizers. This war was due to the natural resources and land that needed to be occupied by the British. Each of them wanted to be economically stable and suppressing the other. Due to the power of the British colonizers, they were able to take over almost all the natural resources.

The British however were not conversant with the lifestyle of the Aboriginals, especially their food. They imported crops and animals like cows and sheep and created farms for them. Aboriginals were made to work in these farms. Indigenous foods included roots, kangaroos, buffaloes, ants among others. There was little fight for food in areas where agriculture could not take place. The farming done by the indigenous people was the means of food for the native animals that existed by then such as kangaroos.

The kangaroos would sneak into the farms, eat to their fill and go back to the bushes (Stephen, 2006). Impact of the History of the Treatment of Indigenous Australians upon the Ethical Practice of an Engineer An engineer has role of upholding great decency, honesty and truth in all operations. Their role should be to ensure the safety of everyone, so that each person has a conducive environment. Engineers ought to pass on their skills and knowledge to the people and ensure the same ethics are upheld.

They have to provide both moral and material support to the people and also related institutions. They should aim at being fair in their works and truthful to their clients and employers (Layton, 1986) The history of the Aboriginals treatment in relation to the ethical practice of an engineer, contradicts most of their ethics. An engineer yearns to protect the rights of the majority and ensuring that everyone is happy with the environment around him or her (William, 2009). Engineer’s works by preventing by any means retrogressive works aimed at demoralizing humans and creating a crude environment.

As an engineer dealing with the Aboriginals, I should target at making peoples life easy and comfortable. This is contrary to the treatment of the Aboriginals by the government of Australia. This is because this ruling party created division between the indigenous and the non-indigenous. It created chaos instead of creating peace among its citizens. As an engineer, one should work to make everyone equal and safe from discrimination of all means. (Layton, 1986) In relation to the ethics of an engineer, the British went contrary to protection human rights.

The British quest for economic power from a minority group goes against the codes of ethics of an engineer (Layton, 1986). . The main ideals of an engineer are to uphold at all costs the health and safety measures for the public. The British introduced diseases which caused harm to the Aboriginals. Influence Of The History Of The Treatment Of Indigenous Australians To Communication Between An Engineer And The Aboriginal Communities During the colonial period, the Aboriginals had a way of life that suited them, and required no modifications.

Aboriginals had a systematic way of living as they inhabited their land according to seasons. Entry of the British Captain and his fleets brought a radical change to all the ways of living of the indigenous clans. They however did not lose their culture.

Read More