Akira Monaghan on Equity

One of favourite bits of each journal is when we ask our friends and colleagues for their thoughts on our chosen word. This is TF.A’s Akira Monaghan on Equity: ⁠

Indulge me while I attempt a connection between ‘equity’ and poo.⁠
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A colleague recently had an unfortunate encounter with raw sewerage in his backyard. An inspection opening overflowed in what I visualize to be a type of chocolate fondue fountain, but less fun. The sewerage then flowed into his swimming pool. Not to worry though, it’s too cold to swim, and the poo breach was dealt with swiftly by the authorities, who treated the situation as the biological hazard that it was.⁠
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At TFA, we work on housing projects in remote Aboriginal communities. Raw sewerage in yards is commonplace, but unlike Perth, there is no rapid response from the authorities. A blocked septic tank can lead to the failure of health hardware such as toilets, hand basins, and kitchen sinks – thereby seriously inhibiting the ability of people to remain healthy. ⁠
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I want to see infrastructure equity between urban and remote homes. I mean shit happens, but shit fountains shouldn’t!

* Copies of Equity are available for purchase through TheFulcrum.Press, with 100% of all revenue generated through journal sales distributed to First Nations community projects.