A new national campaign calling on all Australians to take action against racism and tackle the Indigenous health crisis will be launched today by ANTaR (Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation) in collaboration with The Body Shop.

The Body Shop stores nationally will promote the Racism Makes Me Sick campaign from 21 April 2008 – 12 May 2008 as part of their commitment to defending human rights and promoting Reconciliation in Australia.

Racism, as a direct and negative influence on health, helps explain in part the Australian Indigenous health crisis. Appallingly, three out of four Indigenous Australians experience racism in their everyday lives.

Heart disease, premature births, hypertension and mental illness can all result from personal experiences of racism.

'It is vital that individuals in Australia have the information and resources to tackle racism in their community' said Gary Highland, ANTaR National Director.

'Standing up to racist attitudes in workplaces, schools and family is a fundamental step in overcoming the Indigenous health crisis in Australia,' Mr Highland said.

'There is a 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Improved healthcare alone may not close this gap, unless positive changes occur in attitudes and behaviour towards Indigenous Australians' Mr Highland said.

The Racism Makes Me Sick campaign aims to engage all Australians, particularly those who feel at a loss for ideas on how they can contribute to removing Indigenous disadvantage.

ANTaR is asking individual Australians to combat racism by:

1. Getting the facts about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
2. Challenging and speaking up to racist stereotypes and misinformed comments
3. Taking positive action in support of Indigenous people

All Australians are encouraged to sign a Personal Pledge to show their commitment, challenge their own assumptions, and speak up to racist or misinformed comments using hints and fact sheets available from antar.org.au.

Media contact: Roger Cook, ANTaR National President, 0400 211 892

About The Body Shop

The Body Shop Australia has 80 stores nationwide. A retailer of toiletries and cosmetics, we are committed to environmental protection and respect for human rights; we develop trading relationships with communities in need; we are against animal testing in the cosmetics industry; and we encourage education, awareness and community involvement among our staff and customers. All The Body Shop? products and ranges are suitable for vegetarians, meaning they contain no animal slaughter by-products. Select ranges are suitable for vegans, which in addition contain no animal derivatives, such as beeswax, honey and lanolin.

1998 Campaigned for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians with a "Thumbs Up for Reconciliation" campaign during Reconciliation Week. More than 100,000 Australians left their thumbprint in stores nationwide to demonstrate their commitment to "a united Australia, which respects this land of ours, values indigenous heritage and provides equity and justice for all". A massive 15 metre x 10 metre banner was made with the thumbprints, illustrating the support reconciliation has in Australia.

2000 Supported Reconciliation Week by developing and printing educational materials on reconciliation for staff and customers. The Document for Reconciliation and the Reconciliation Pledge Books were also displayed in-store during the week. Took part in a series of walks around Australia to show its commitment to reconciliation. The walks began in Sydney for Corroboree 2000.

About ANTaR

ANTaR is a non-government, not-for-profit community-based organisation that has been working in partnership with Indigenous communities and organisations on reconciliation and Indigenous rights initiatives since 1997.

ANTaR's emphasis is on the 97.6% of Australians who are non-Indigenous, concerning their roles and responsibilities with respect to Indigenous disadvantage and discrimination. ANTaR creates space in which the aspirations of Indigenous Australians can be voiced and heard in non-Indigenous forums. Our goal is a just society that respects Indigenous peoples’ rights and cultures and ensures socio-economic outcomes for Indigenous people on a par with other Australians.

ANTaR campaigns nationally on a variety of key issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians including Close The Gap, health rights, Stolen Generations, education, Stolen Wages and others. For further information visit www.antar.org.au