E-Petition to give African descendents free access to slavery records

[spokette]

I thought I would post this link here to raise awareness of this petition which affects the rights of African descendents to have free access to slave records which may shed some light on their ancestors and place of origin within Africa.

A UK company is currently placing online colonial records of 3.000.000 Africans, relating to their enslavement. This is a corporate attempt to cash in on the increased interest during the bicentenary year. African people and descendants of slaves should not have to pay for such a service. This should be a free to view document, with all records being made public so the history can be known by all. Please sign this petition to get all govenment records made available free of charge to everyone.

Who is the company and where do they advertise?

Please don't tell me the information has been outsourced by government to a private company!

I too would be interested to know a bit more about this company - what they are charging, and for specific information.

I agree it is outrageous that anyone should be profiteering from this, but if the costs are low and to cover administration and I would be less inclined to sign a petition.

I don't know who the company is but as this editorial says, the argument is mainly with the government who appear to be squirming out their responsibility, especially during the Bicentenary year which celebrated the abolition of the slave trade, to recognise the humanitarian abuse that was sanctioned by the British government at the time.

It never fails to amaze me how the victims of the Jewish holocaust are unconditionally solemnly remembered and honoured whereas the injustices of the slave trade are routinely swept under the carpet like it was nothing.

Why the hell should the government be allowed to force descendents of the slave trade to pay out for finding about their ancestors, especially when they still reaping the financial windfall of the legacy of that evil trade? It makes my blood boil!

I'm with you - but I feel that it is a matter of public record and no-one should have to pay to see it's contents.

The government should block the company and put this info no public record. Again, government cockup. I feel they are outsourcing people's history for profit. Should not be allowed to happen.