And Why Should It Have?

Oliver and his publisher, Penguin Random House UK (PRH UK), have conceded to Guardian Australia that no consultation with any Indigenous organisation, community or individual took place before the book was published.

It's a children's fantasy novel. Why on earth should anyone have to consult anyone before publication? Except maybe a test audience of children, to see if they like it?

But let the reflexing cringing begin!

“I am devastated to hear I have caused offence and wholly apologise for doing so,” Oliver said in a statement to the Guardian. “I am listening and reflecting and working closely with my publisher on next steps.”

Oh, good grief, man, show some balls and tell the race grifters to fuck off! 

PRH UK also issued a statement saying it apologised unreservedly.

“Penguin Random House UK publishes this work and takes responsibility for the consultation, or what we would call an authenticity read of the work,” the statement said. “It was our editorial oversight that this did not happen. It should have and the author asked for one and we apologise unreservedly.”

And that's why you will be forever beholden to these charlatan activists! 

Neither author nor publisher has committed to withdrawing the book from sale, however, a move Natsiec said must happen immediately to rectify the harm caused. The body’s chief executive, Sharon Davis, said the book perpetuated harmful stereotypes, trivialised complex and painful histories and “ignores the violent oppression of First Nations people, raising serious concerns about the cultural safety of First Nations readers – especially young people”.

If your 'young people's' safety is compromised by reading a book, then their parents have failed them. 

Davis said such errors exposed the author’s “complete disregard for the vast differences among First Nations languages, cultures, and practices”, while the book’s reduction of First Nations beliefs and spirituality to “magic” was “a longstanding stereotype that diminishes our complex and diverse belief systems”.

Readers are invited to ponder the chutzpah here, give the furore over the Aboriginal Telescope that David Thompson highlighted. 

Dr Anita Heiss, a Wiradyuri author and publisher-at-large at Simon & Schuster’s First Nations imprint, Bundyi Publishing, said Oliver’s book confirmed what she had been advocating for over many years. “First Nations peoples need to be involved at every stage of the process from acquisitions to editorial, to sales and marketing. Only then will our stories be told with the complete respect they deserve,” she said in a statement. “There is no space in Australian publishing (or elsewhere) for our stories to be told through a colonial lens, by authors who have little if any connection to the people and place they are writing about.”

It's called 'fantasy' for a reason! Do  we have to strap Neal Asher to the next one of Musk's rockets so  he can write about sci fi? Lock Stephen King in a haunted house in Maine so he can write more horror? 

No, of course not. 

What Sort Of 'Improved Access'...?

We joined Claire Wood, who is from Manchester, and Clare Birnie, from Bradford, on a sunny autumn walk around Swinsty Reservoir near Harrogate to learn more about their plus-size outdoor experiences. The women are part of the Yorkshire branch of Every Body Outdoors - a group dedicated to improving access to the great outdoors for plus-size people.

It's the wide outdoors, what more do these landwhales need?

"There is no competitive element, we're not racing (Ed: *stifles comment*), we've got no target," Ms Wood said. "It's literally just because outdoor spaces are traditionally not welcoming for those of us in bigger bodies." 

In what way? Well, by just being there, it seems.

She said she had never tried to join a "traditional" walking group because she assumed she would slow everybody down and was worried that she would need to stop for a rest while the rest of the group carried on without her.

Ms Birnie, 40, who described herself as a "comfortably fat woman", recalled a time when she tried to join a walking group. She said: "I'm actually quite an experienced walker with my husband, we've been going out for 15 years, but I wanted to go on a group hike.

"I contacted the organiser and said, 'By the way I'm in a bigger body, I am capable and happy walking a distance and I can absolutely achieve what we're looking to do, but I just will be slower'."

"It felt like they didn't even look at what I'd written," she said angrily when referring to a walk she went on with the group. "Within the first 200m they had just bounded off with the rest of the group and it made me feel very unwelcome.

"It made me feel very excluded and I got very upset during the day."

FFS, she actually thought everyone else should slow down so she could keep up with them. How utterly narcissistic! 

It also campaigns for clothing, gear and representation for plus-size bodies in the outdoor movement. Ms Wood said there was a lack of outdoor clothing available for plus-size people. "We have money to spend, there's money to be made, we want to buy these things, we need these things," she added.

Well, if manufacturers aren't making them because there's not enough demand, have you thought of starting your own business? 

Rebecca Dawson, one of the founders of Every Body Outdoors, set up the clothing company Vampire Outdoors in 2022 because she was so fed up with not being able to find suitable outdoor clothing that fitted plus-size people. She has been a keen hiker for more than 10 years and said: "It's 100% a problem. There is a size bias to people doing outdoor activities.

"A lot of clothing manufacturers and retailers don't recognise that people in bigger bodies want to do outdoor activities, including the more adventurous things like long-distance hiking and mountaineering."

See? That's how it's done, ladies. 

And The Welsh Government Is Just Daft Enough To Try It, Too....

The Welsh Government has been advised to create dog-free zones to help make the outdoors “anti-racist”. Labour’s devolved administration has pledged to rid Wales of racism by 2030, and set out a plan to ensure “all areas” of public life were transformed.

According to a report submitted to the Welsh Government to steer “anti-racist” policy, dog-free zones should be created to make the outdoors more inclusive.

I know what you're thinking Reader, I thought so too,  but don't be hasty... 

The reason for this is not elaborated on in the report, which will be used by the Welsh Government to “support policy teams” who are “developing and implementing” anti-racist plans for Wales.

Actually, it is. Be patient.  

On the basis of reports provided to date, the Welsh Government has concluded that ethnic minorities face “barriers” to the outdoors created by “exclusions and racism”.

Barriers to outdoor activities includes the perception that growing food in gardens or allotments is an activity “dominated by middle-aged white women”.

No idea why that would keep them out, according to almost every advert I've seen so far, marrying a white woman is a goal! 

Climate Cymru BAME, along with groups polled to inform the anti-racist policy, suggested that ethnic minority residents could be directed to “community led” food growing groups to mitigate the issue.

And by 'community', they don't mean those run by Becan or Carys. But back to those dogs... 

A separate set of recommendations submitted by the North Wales Africa Society suggested that “dog-free areas” should be created, explaining that during its focus groups “one black African female stated that she feels unsafe with the presence of dogs”.

One. ONE!?! Truly, we live in the age of the Tyranny of the Minority.

The report also noted that others kept “seeing dog fouling on the floor”.

Given how ethnic minorities often live in their home countries (Ed: yes, I've been watching 'Snakes In The City' and a black mamba in those kitchens isn't the biggest poisoning risk in the house...) , how exactly is that a problem? 

And what about all the sheep, cow and rabbit poo that litters the countryside? 

H/T: Skipster via Twitter