Aust admits possible WMD breach – National – www.theage.com.au: “Australia may have ‘innocently’ exported nuclear technology to parties with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs, Defence Minister Robert Hill said today.”
So, will America launch a pre-emptive strike?
Record blow-out in nation’s debt – National – www.theage.com.au: “Australia’s annual current account deficit has blown out to a record $50 billion as consumers suck in huge volumes of imports and the banks borrow furiously from foreigners to feed the nation’s debt boom.”
I’m no great economist however my basic understanding of this is that Australia, a country that should be thriving on our intellectual capital base, is basically a Banana Republic – a country with a limited exports based primarily on primary products.
My understanding of the cause of this is that the Howard Government is so short sighted that it has removed many of the incentives to innovation. This certainly includes business and industry but also includes tertiary education and our university system which have largely been left to the market. I also think that a rejection of US intellectual property rights would have been less of a backward step.
Why waist our intellectual resources? Short term opportunism and I’ve a feeling the bubble will pop. Of course rabid lefties like my self tend to predict these sorts of things.
It is of little surprise to me that there were riots on Palm Island over the weekend. Say what you will about the tactics of this sort of protest the fact of the matter is that these people are desperate and dying, not just in gaol either.
What does one do when they see their people dieing on a daily basis? Michael is walking all the way to Canberra out of desperation and the people of Palm Island are rioting. Not enough can be done about the issues facing our indigenous population and the Federal Government is doing less and less every day including taking any control over their own destiny away at ever opportunity.
I went to what I believe was the inaugural Melbourne Social Forum yesterday. An interesting day and of course the most memorable moment is the only moment I don’t want to discuss on my blog as the person it involves does not deserve the privilege of being mentioned here (Bitter? Not really. He was just a fucking wanker).
Aside from that it was quite an invigorating day. A reasonable turn out, one most people seemed pretty impressed with, and some great discussions.
It certainly reinforced my thoughts that there is simple no Global Justice Movement in Australia but it also showed me that there are people out there who are interested and wanting to get involved in these global issues. Moreover there were quite a few of the “reds” there, which is fine but it just emphasises to me that the next evolution in revolutionary thought is yet to be fully embraced (apologies to those who don’t like me saying ‘revolution’).
The discussion of environmental issues was also quite interesting. “Life after Capitalism” (largely dominated by Socialists and Unionists) certainly stipulated that it would be a sustainable life, but largely a socialist one. It reinforces my thoughts that the Global Justice Movement, and in fact most social movements simply have the environment as a foot note.
One other thing. There is never ‘only one way’ to change the world. A lot of people seem to think otherwise based on their particular life experience.
Howard keeps winning elections because of his appeal to the Outsider. The right-wing insiders are already on board and the left-wing insiders will never be on board. Does this make the Outsiders right-wing? Not necessarily. However they are obviously influenced by a right-wing media. Does that mean that in fact they are catered for? Or does it mean they are just easily influenced. It strikes me that the right have very cleverly manipulated this situation including the attack on the insiders. There is more here but my thoughts aren’t quite formulated enough yet.
Herald Sun: Our newest gold diggers [24nov04]: “But this month’s official celebration of Eureka seems like political gold-digging by people who love spending taxes. Your taxes on their politics. And that’s revolting, too.”
Put down the crack pipe Bolty
An article of mine has been published at: The New Matilda.
Please let me know if you would like a copy.
In other news: Big guns join anti-patent push – Breaking – http://www.theage.com.au/technology/: “The three most famous European authors of Open Source software have called on the EU Council not to adopt a draft directive on software patents which they have characterised as ‘deceptive, dangerous, and democratically illegitimate’.”
I think they are onto something and it is really good to see some of these people standing up to the Microsoft bullies. Nokia have recently done a similar thing. Stop stifling creativity Mr Gates!!
Early alert plan for dangerous new drugs – National – www.theage.com.au: “But Ms Pike said allowing testing (of Ecstasy and other drugs) by party-goers would send out the wrong message that ‘somehow there’s a safe way to take party drugs’.”
I thought is was quite clear that there is a safe way to take drugs. MDMA is not a particularly dangerous drug. I think the stats are something like 10 deaths in 8 years that have been ecstasy related – all in extenuating circumstances and I suspect many could have been overcome with the use of a testing machine. One would have to take a LOT of MDMA for it to be fatal. Other drugs are far less safe so by knowing the content of a drug you can minimise the harm caused by them.
Here’s the ‘hot tip’ for Bronnie, if you are testing a drug it means you have already bought it. That means that if anything it reduces the likelihood of someone taking a drug because they won’t take it if the contents are dodgy. Moreover, this could save lives.
Stop taking this pathetic moral high ground and start dealing with the facts of drug use!! It will save lives.
Police are threatening to arrest and fine, and possible gaol people involved in a Critical Mass ride through the Burley Tunnel this Friday. Firstly, I’d encourage all those considering this ride to go ahead with it anyway. It’s one of those things where if there are enough of you there is really not much ‘the man’ can do. I’m also unsure about the legalities of riding on that road but if it is legal for a lone cyclist to ride through the tunnel then surely 1,000 who just happen to embark on this at once could not be charged. I know I’m clutching at straws here but in the end it is really hard to arrest that many people. You’d need 500 police to do it and if the complaint is already about a waste of resources surely this is a much greater one. Unfortunately this is yet another example of the police being used to protect private interests (Citylink is upset about the $40,000 they lost last time – my bleeding heart). Aren’t they there to support public interests?
Unfortunately this would appear to be a case of the Bracks Government silencing dissent. I though that was the realm of the Howard Government. Protest is important and the Critical Mass message is a particularly important one. The thing that got me going most of all however is:
Cyclists riding in tunnel protest face jail – National – www.theage.com.au: “Superintendent Williams said many of the demonstrators were people who should know better. ‘It’s not all students, unemployed people and rent-a-crowd types . . . there are a number of professional people from the corporate sector, a number of public servants and people from local government. We don’t want them to risk prosecution.’”
What the FUCK does that mean!! Because you’re a public servant you can’t protest? You can’t reclaim the streets from corporations (Citylink)? You can’t believe that cars are one of the greatest contributors to Global Warming? And what are you saying about students and the unemployed? Can’t they contribute to society? I thought getting an education was making a contribution and surely we can’t pick on people who are unfortunate enough to be without gainful employment.
I’d like to make my support for these engaged, conscious people who are risking fines and gaol time to express their frustration at the lack of action on these issues. Hell, if I was fit enough to be able to ride the distance of the tunnel then I’d be right there beside them.
Viva la bicycle revolution!!
I’ve just started reading Margaret Simons‘ Quarterly Essay: Latham’s World: The new politics of the outsider.
Simons’ argues Latham has three defining ideas that guide his vision of how to run the country, and I mention them here because I feel they are all based on a quite unique interpretation of ‘the third way’:
Of these it is the issue of the outsider that is the most significant to me (it would seem that education is the most important to Latham) and what sets Latham apart. In a way it is another word for ‘elites’ only in a way it cuts much deeper as it is equally a dig at the comfortable, well educated middle-class that both the left and right encompass. Here the influence of the third-way can be seen.
Howard one because the ‘aspirationals’ are concerned about their mortgages. Howard’s sale on this issue was based on a huge lie but the left failed to articulate this in a way that was at all meaningful to those living in the outer suburbs of our major cities who tend to decide election outcomes. The charge is quite serious because the issues that I hold dear to my hear – refugees, land rights, reconciliation – simply don’t matter to these people.
Latham seems to put too much emphasis on individual responsibility which seems to translate into blame, for my liking. He’s also very pro-market which I think compounds the problem associated with this ‘blame’ mentality. However insiders such as myself need to seriously address the relevance of what we are saying if we are to win elections.
I think that globalisation could hold the key here in a funny way as many of the outsiders are disillusioned by globalisation that is shoved down their thoughts and told that it is inevitable. Another world is possible and we need to start to convey this is a plain English sort of way. It seems a bit like a compromise but perhaps it is just pragmatism. I’ll never vote for Latham but I think there is an important message here.
Porn slip-up embarrasses Idol winner – TV & Radio – www.theage.com.au: “Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan has had her first taste of controversy with the news that a mistake in an advert giving her website address actually leads to a gay porn site.”
- Gold!!
US President praises Howard’s son for help – National – www.theage.com.au: “US President George Bush sang the praises of the Prime Minister’s younger son, Richard, when he met Mr Howard at the APEC summit yesterday.
Richard, 24, a law graduate, worked as a volunteer at the Bush campaign headquarters in Washington, giving his father regular updates on how it was going.
A coy Mr Howard, who was applauded on his own re-election by several Asia-Pacific region leaders yesterday, declined to elaborate on the President’s remarks, saying only: ‘We very briefly talked about the result of the elections in the two countries and he was kind enough to make some reference to my son.’”
- ‘Nuff said.
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