First off, here is the link to a YouTube clip of the song "Material World" by Tracy Chapman. It's a great song, and the lyrics really resonate with some of the topics we've discussed in class recently - modern day slavery, white supremacy, the prevalence of religion in colonialism. Check it out. :):)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqcCb8AtTrY
Secondly, earlier this week, I mentioned the book "Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunities for Women Worldwide" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn - it's also a film. (Topics that come up are education for women, education, trafficking, etc!) I haven't finished the book yet, but I saw Kristof speak earlier this semester, and I know a documentary has also been made about their research. Here's the link to the website!
http://www.halftheskymovement.org
Finally, I did a little bit of research on the Rabbit-Proof Fence. When it was first mentioned in the movie, I had a sinking suspicion that the fence had actually been built to control and suppress native peoples (and was being called rabbit-proof to cover it up). But it was, in fact, built because of rabbits.
It does relate in a way to colonialism, though. In fact, colonialism is what caused the initial problem.
Apparently, rabbits were introduced into Australia to help European settlers feel more at home (they were a pursuit activity, like the fox hunts Europeans were used to - how ridiculous!)
So the rabbits flourished and grew as a species - they started eating and messing up a bunch of land and crops. (Haha - assuring Anglo-Saxon comfort backfired!!!) It was an environmental problem.
More than one fence was built to protect the Western Australian lands. It took 6 years - and it kind of worked.
I guess it's a good thing that the fence was built, though, because it served to be an effective point of reference for Aborigines returning to their homelands (like Molly, Daisy, and Gracie).
I listened to the song and totally saw where you were coming from, the idea of the material world being whats so important, and the driving cause of slavery and wrongdoings. The over extravagant lifestyles at the cost of lives and innocence of others. But I also was really curious if the fence was for rabbits or some kind or barrier or line people weren't supposed to cross, but I'm happy I know now :)
I actually thought the exact same thing about the rabbit-proof fence as you did, but didn't look it up. It's funny to think of how these people were so determined to change and take over another culture of people, yet they were so worried about rabbits and their land. It's sad, really. I feel like it's a constant battle between being an American and knowing that what we have and where we are living was taken from people in a way that usually resulted in death (similar to the situation in Australia). I just wish that everyone would educate themselves about the colonization of the world.