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First Nations people are 3 times more likely to die on the road – here’s how to fix Australia’s transport injustice

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Last 12 months, more than 1,200 people died in road crashes across Australia. However, not all Australians face the same risks on our roads.

Government data in five states and territories show significant inequality in road safety.

Data from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory shows that Indigenous people in these areas are about 2.8 times more likely to be killed on a road than non-Indigenous Australians.

One thing we will do to reduce this transportation inequity is to make it easier for First Nations to get a driver’s license. This is not going to only improve road safety. It will bring many other advantages to individuals and communities.

There is a big difference

Between 2012 and 2021, 791 First Nations people died in road traffic crashes. This is a rate of 12.7 per 100,000 First Nations people.

By comparison, the rate amongst non-Indigenous people was 4.6 per 100,000 population.

Among First Nations people, those aged 26-39 are most liable to road deaths, with a rate of 20.9 per 100,000 people. While the risk for those aged 40 and older has been steadily declining since 2016, it has increased in recent times for the 26-39 age group.

Indigenous road traffic fatalities occur mainly in the interior and outer regions of Australia and in distant and really distant areas. For example, of the 76 Indigenous road traffic fatalities in 2021, only 13% occurred in major cities.

There can be a noticeable gender difference in the circumstances of road deaths involving First Nations people. More than 40% of girls’s road deaths occur as passengers in cars, and 23% as pedestrians. However, men are more likely to be drivers, motorcyclists or cyclists.

First Nations people are more likely to be killed on the road, according to a decade of knowledge.
BIT

Driving license is an actual problem

Drivers and not using a driving license are in greater risk death on the road or be involved in serious cases. And one key factor The significant contribution to higher road fatalities amongst First Nations people is Barriers encountered in obtaining a driving license.

Licensing rates amongst First Nations peoples are lower compared with the general population. For example, only 51-77% of First Nations people surveyed in various locations in NSW and SA had a driver’s licence, compared with 83% of the general population.

This disparity is deeply connected with the influence driving license are imposed and implemented.

My research (Masterton) in rural Australia shows what this implies in practice.

What for those who cannot afford a automobile or lessons?

In research to be published, I’m exploring the transport challenges faced by First Nations women in rural Queensland. Through writing, interviews and short surveys, I’m uncovering some common barriers.

Some women have a driver’s license or learner’s permit. Others have expired licenses and are having trouble renewing them. Most, nevertheless, shouldn’t have a license. A big number (with or and not using a license) shouldn’t have access to or cannot afford a working vehicle.

Many women and not using a license still drive out of necessity: to take children to school, to work, or to look after family. Most, nevertheless, rely on walking or getting a ride to get around. Only a small fraction of girls who had each a sound license and a automobile expressed a way of freedom, independence, and increased self-confidence.

During visits to distant communities, it became clear that the Indigenous people who participated in my research didn’t oppose licensing.

Australian L plate
Some women had a driving license while they were learning to drive, or they didn’t have a license but had to take their children to school.
Craig Sutton/Shutterstock

Research also shows that indigenous people I do not have poorer attitudes towards road safety than non-First Nations. However, the licensing process should be culturally appropriate and accessible to encourage participation.

The low licensing rate is due to barriers equivalent to literacy barriers, the complexity of using a system designed for native English speakers, lack of trust in authorities and the high costs related to obtaining a license.

There are challenges in providing appropriate identification documents (equivalent to birth certificates) and finding driving instructors who can work effectively with Indigenous people.

The high cost of driving lessons, difficulty in accessing a licensed driver to supervise practice hours, and the financial burden of unpaid driving fines further complicate the path to obtaining a license.

Solving these problems can have a big impact on improving equity in transport and road safety for First Nations communities.

It’s not nearly transportation

For many Indigenous people, particularly those in distant areas, the ability to travel safely and legally is crucial to access health care, fulfill cultural obligations and take part in the workforce.

So the problem of limited variety of driving licenses in First Nations communities can be serious the problem of social justice which has an impact on the broader health, well-being and autonomy of those communities.

This signifies that barriers to obtaining a license – whether financial, logistical or bureaucratic – deepen existing inequalities. This has a knock-on effect, restricting mobility and reinforcing disadvantageous social and economic conditions.

How can we treatment this?

Solving the licensing gap requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including health, education, transportation and justice.

Community-led programs, financial support, and policy changes could make licensing more accessible.

Were Community Based Pilot Programs geared toward supporting First Nations people in obtaining licenses New South Wales and New York.

The programs provide culturally relevant, community-based licensing support through intensive case management, mentoring, and addressing specific barriers to accessing and navigating the licensing system and obtaining and reinstating licensure. These pilot programs have demonstrated significant potential and effectiveness, indicating that they needs to be scaled and implemented more broadly, with community support.

Licensing can be a matter of fairness. One in 20 Aboriginal people in prison is serving a sentence for driving and not using a driving license and other driving license offences.

So First Nations Courts Other programs geared toward diverting people from prison could also help First Nations people obtain driver’s licenses and limit further contact with the criminal justice system.


This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Yvette Nicole Brown’s glamorous bachelorette party was a star-studded affair

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Yvette Nicole Brown is sort of ready for her big day, and her girls are by her side to assist her rejoice her upcoming nuptials.

Brown will soon marry actor Anthony Davis, Brown, 53, celebrated on Nov. 17 with a lavish wedding reception along with her closest friends and sorority sisters at Inglewood’s only Black-owned winery, 1010 Wine & Events. This star-studded event was planned by William P. Miller and hosted by legendary black actresses reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Calloway Lela Rochon Fuqua Kym Whitley, who was also the “Shower Master of Ceremonies.”

The party’s theme was “Our Pearl Found Her Diamond” and paid tribute to Brown’s beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and its signature pearls and diamond engagement ring. Brown became a proud soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 30 years ago when she graduated from the University of Akron in Ohio, where she became a member of the Delta Pi chapter.

The guest list included several of Brown’s famous friends from Black Hollywood’s elite circle, including Kim Fields, Essence Atkins, Holly Robinson Peete, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Cree Summer Francks and Yvette Lee Bowser.

The ladies rejoiced with the music of DJ Candice Manier, original SV Vodka cocktails and a cake created by Southern Girl Desserts. They also made pearl jewelry, played games, and watched a video with sweet messages and photos.

For Brown, having her friends’ support down the aisle “means everything.”

“I think most of them were or are married. I know a few of them have been at least proposed,” Brown says. “This is my first everything. It’s exciting to be able to sit at their feet and hear their opinions on various topics, and to be able to tell me what they think about it all.”

We cannot wait for Brown to tie the knot along with her beau next month.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

“Get Lifted” by John Legend (twentieth Anniversary Edition) [Interview] – Essence

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Photo credit: Danny Clinch

When John Legend unveiled his debut album in 2004, he couldn’t have predicted the extraordinary legacy it could construct over the following 20 years. Now, with the discharge the singer returns to the project that launched his profession and redefined the boundaries of R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul. Available now, the digital Deluxe Edition offers fans a refreshed tackle timeless classics with remixes, rare tracks and collaborations that bring latest energy to the music.

The twentieth Anniversary Edition includes 11 bonus tracks, including remixes from iconic artists equivalent to Tems, Killer Mike, Lil Wayne, Simi and Black Thought. Two previously unreleased songs – “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Just In Time” – offer fans an intimate look into Legend’s creative process during this era. The album’s revival doesn’t end there; will even be available as 3LP vinyl in 2025, and all copies are signed by Legend.

Reflecting on the challenges of making an original album, the award-winning artist recalled the struggles of an aspiring artist trying to search out their sound. “I wrote a lot of this album when I wasn’t signed, so the big challenge was just figuring out what would work to give me a chance to get the music out there,” he explains. . “I’ve been trying to get a record deal for over five years, but record labels were turning me down both left and right.”

It was only when Kanye West took a likelihood on Legend and signed a contract with GOOD Music that all the pieces began to alter. Working with West and touring together opened doors for the University of Pennsylvania graduate. That same yr, he signed a record take care of Columbia and was able to hit the shelves. The album’s breakout single “Ordinary people” became the anthem that defined Legend’s artistry. “When it finally came out and made it work the way it did, especially with my second single, it was really beautiful to see it start to connect and connect with people,” she tells ESSENCE.

On the occasion of the anniversary edition, Legend collaborated with artists who provided a refreshing atmosphere to Legend’s debut – but remixes aren’t just repetitions of original songs. “I’m a fan of every artist we asked to be a part of the remix,” says Legend. “They have new beats, new energy, new vibes and of course new guest artists. It really brought a fresh perspective to music and excited me to reconnect with music.”

was a breakthrough album for the Ohio-born artist, combining multiple genres in a timeless and groundbreaking way. “I felt like it happened when neo-soul was already at its peak, so in a way it was almost like my reaction to neo-soul,” Legend reflects. “We also combine hip hop and gospel and create something fresh.” Legend’s commitment to songwriting is a thread that runs deep through his work then and now.

The physical format of music, especially upcoming vinyl releases, also plays a big role in maintaining the impact of the unique album. “There will always be people who want to hold something, read the sleeve notes, and play vinyl on their record players at home,” Legend states. “Especially when you’re celebrating an anniversary like this, it’s nice to have a commemorative thing that you can keep. This album means something to people because they remember 20 years ago when they started listening to it and what it meant to them then.”

Rekindling the magic of a pioneering debut, it also stands as a testament to Legend’s enduring craftsmanship. The album stays a masterclass in musical storytelling, connecting generations of fans and proving that great music, like great artists, only gets higher with time.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

US communities phase out fluoride use in public drinking water

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fluoride, water


There is a battle raging in American cities over whether to proceed using fluoride in water.

This is a process generally known as fluoridation that began around 1945. According to to the American Cancer Society became popular across the country after scientists noticed that individuals living in water with higher concentrations of fluoride had less tooth decay.

In 1962, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) advisable adding fluoride to public drinking water supplies to forestall tooth decay. The American Cancer Society estimates that fluoride is currently used in public drinking water supplied to roughly three in 4 Americans.

However, opponents have been warning for years that fluoride in drinking water is unsafe to devour. One of the organizations leading this initiative is Fluoride Action Network (FAN). The organization, whose mission is to lift awareness of what it claims is the “toxicity of fluoride compounds,” says many of the world’s developed countries don’t use fluoride in drinking water at the identical levels as America, or in any respect.

The organization says yes it helped over 500 communities successfully reject fluoridation, and there could also be more.

Federal leaders have gotten increasingly vocal in their support for ending the use of fluoride

While FAN says communities have rejected fluoridation for the past few a long time and the method has stalled in consequence, the fight has been thrust into the highlight over the past few months.

First, the National Toxicology Program, a federal agency throughout the Department of Health and Human Services, reported with “moderate certainty” that there may be an association between communities with higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. According to the Associated Press, these communities use greater than twice the advisable limit.

A month later, a federal judge apparently ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because higher levels could affect children.

Robert F. Kennedy, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to direct the Department of Health and Human Services, announced an end to fluoridation.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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