STUDENTS' Parents' and tutors' wishes FOR Pacific Islanders Australian growing up in our
local Canterbury and beyond Community NSW, Australia
Has someone made a difference to you?
Have you made a difference to someone?
Usually something bad or
something good has happened to someone in life that will give them the
opportunity to turn around.Sometimes
when it happened an angel, someone dear to your heart or may be a total
stranger will come by and make a difference. In time of despair, in need, when you are at the cross road. These special person brings comfort, relief, happiness,
light, opportunity to give you a second chance.Other times it will
be the opposite, Still it happened and it was meant to happen.We have to accept it and say thank god and
appreciated that we still have the time for reconciliation, reflection and
learned from the event, mine, yours, theirs (mistakes.) We have experienced
and witnessed why did it happen.Emotionally we felt bad with the consequences
of their or our lost, confused with anger, guilt, love and revenge. We don't have to make it worse for them or look away from them. We have to make peace with ourselves, offer support and give so
others can be able to wake up to see clearly.
We have to build every strengths and
motivation to face reality. Obviously we
have to be prepared to face reality. We have to seek help if we felt that we
cannot stand alone. The first condition for fruitful change is seeing clearly
where we are at the moment.We do not hide
away from present reality.We do not dwell
in the past mistakes, we learn from it.If there are aspects of present we do no like, plan how we have to change them
if we pretend these aspects do not exist, we never change them.The potential for change in the future can
only live in the present.After every
fall we get up and walked again and again till we felt much stronger and we keeping going till we get there.
Like they say where there is a will, there is always a
way....Right....There is always a way, at the end. Right... Where there is a
way a will can often be awakened. Right .... Where there is no will,
there is no way. Right.... What do you have in your life right now?....A
way and a will...Right...Yours is not the only will......Right.....Someone else is keen
to have their way, and their will.....Right you oppose it, check their way
Right........won't work better than yours Right.....If it will, there is no point standing
in their way. If it won't, summon your will and you will find your way to
what is now so important to get your way….Right. In life to get your way Right;;;;;you follow your aims, goals and what to achieve......Right........ and my
way I will do the same......Right..... We all have unique special ways to give......Right.....In different way.....Right....We all have something to contribute to Society.....Right......What you can offer.........Right........Others cannot offer.......You do not have to have a title to make a difference........Right.....Anyone can make a difference.........Right.......Let us united to get there........Right
We need to work on disciplining ourselves according to our
AIMS, VISION, STATEMENT & VALUES TO REACH OUR GOALS, right…TO GET
RESULTSyou must EXECUTE and untangle
knots….Right….HOW..Right BY WORKING on Remedies, Prevention and Protection….Right
now! RIGHT…Not later & Not tomorrow. RIGHT….Tomorrow may never come…..Right...........By the Co-ordinator of The PISSAM PROGRAM IN HER OWN WORDS........Right.
Student A. My wish as a Pacific Islander,
to grow up in a peaceful and caring family, a family who believes in change to accommodate
my needs, with my new environment that I am in,I would like to encourage my family to go by the time, a family to support my education and my brothers and sisters. This will save my
family from costly unhappiness, lost, economical, emotional, personal, physical, mental even
death. A family to participate and act to do things that willprotect, prevent, encourage, teach,
give and enjoy peace and harmony while I am growing up in my new home and my
community.
Student B.I want my parents to take the family as their
number one priority and responsibility, started at home recognizing that we
have moved away from my Island Home, where times stays still, to
Australia where time moves on, lots of opportunity for me and family to appreciate and contribute to the community. I love my
family to put aside any differences and be united with the multicultural
communities and the whole community on focusing on ways to develop community
initiatives, development and awareness.
Student C. A family to understand and participate with what is going on my school, community, Council, State, Federal Government and what services
they provide.I love them to know and
understand the rules, laws and regulations of the country.I want them to follow the laws of Australia.I love my family and friends to take any
opportunity to upgrade learning, upgrade skills that needed to make life to the
fullest in my family and my community.
Student D. I want an inclusive family where I can be friend with all the youths in the community. I wanted the best for myself, my family and the whole community to encourage and share every knowledge with others and enjoy peace and harmony. I love to work closely with other communities, to support others, and as
a family as a community.I want my
family to be involved with other communities more often, not to just group
around with my Pacific Islanders community.I want my family to
attend my Pacific Islanders days, family gathering on special occasions, but my
family, my local community will be mypriority. My local Belmore St Joseph Catholic Church are attended by many
multicultural communities, I am happy and excited and looked forward to attend
church every Sunday.My family after
mass enjoyed talking to everyone.Most children and parentsattended mass are friends of my parents or my friends that I go to school
with, play basketball with in the local park, football club’s friend, teachers
from my school, people that work with my mum, my local federal member, local
councillors, my local groceries store owner, my neighbors, friends, some of my
Pacific Islanders people and my local community.When someone has a birthday, we stayed and
enjoyed a cup of tea with their family and our church friends.These way we integrate and enjoyed friendship
with our community. I love to be connected with my
community in all levels.
Student E. I love my family life to
change a bit differently to make life easier and happier for my family and my
community, My family must accepted that it will slow us
down if we still cling to ways back home, Huge challenges and bumpy ride if we
will not get off the train,My family
have to get on the right train to get to the right destination, otherwise we will
never get there to enjoy the fun with my community, slowly it will take
time,slow but will get there,
recognizingthat it can be done.
Student F. I want to live in a home where my parents’
dutyof care do not to deny me and my sisters
and brothers things that we need to take us to where we wanted to be and we will grow and grow till we are mature enough to make
decision for ourselves. I want my parents to care and guide me until I am 18, through thick and thin, rich and poor. I want to follow their deeds and words of
wisdom, love and positive influence to develop confidence in me.An encouragement to give me strengths to
bring justices to the injustices, advantages to the disadvantages, happiness to
the loneliness.
Student G. Whatever they do will eventually will contribute to make me strong on
concrete ground to stand my ground.In return I will
love to support my parents on any conflicting due to cultural misunderstanding
with school or authority by guiding them in ways that they would
understand, regardless of their Pacific Islander's cultures and
tradition, and making them aware of any changes or any complication that
they face to move forward.
Student H. I love my family to take
care of me from birth till I am 18 years of age. I love my Dad to go to work while mum look after us, take us to day
care, kindy, primary school, take care of all housework, cook dinner, when
dad arrived from work dinner will be ready and we can enjoy our dinner with dad , as soon as dinner is finished, us older children will wash up
the dishes, and give younger children theirs showers, Mum and Dad can read books or little story and duck
kids to sleep.
Student I. I like mum
and dad to have a break and can both have a rest and can have time to themselves.In the morning dad goes to work making his
own lunch and mum can wake up a bit later and look after us.Because mum is our full time housekeeper, wife, mother she
can rest a little bit longer in the morning.
Student J. When I am 16 and goes to high
school. Now I am at high school.Mum can go to work full time to help
dad. I will be responsible to my younger sisters and brothers. My wish is to wake up on weekends with a friendly
open, caring, family, with the sound of mum and dad saying grace,
laughing and enjoying breakfast discussing their responsibilities, payment of
household expenses on time, paying our school fees, school shoes,
sports uniform. Preventing last minute delays or appointment. Map out
their daily activities, schedule their times, plan important tasks daily,
weekly, quarterly and annually, written on the notice board, meeting those
targets and getting those results.
Student K. I love my family to spend special time with just us family, as their 1st
priorities and responsibilities are to meet the needs of my family. Inviting us
children to see if we have anything to add to the family lists of priority and
responsibilities.To have enough healthy
foodfor the family. I love to feel
included in any decisions which is encouraging, experiencinglearning good models provided to us children by them. I love my parents to give me a space and to respect my decision.
Student L. I love my mum to provide, healthy little
lunch, big lunch for me and my sisters and brothers. I love our lunches to
be colorful, red apples, yellow bananas, green peas, orange carrots, brown
peanuts, purple grapes, ripe bananas, some sandwiches with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, celery
with little meat. A bottle of water straight from the tap will be fine.
Student M. I love to have my own room, with my own desk, own bed, a computer to share with my sisters and brothers. I love my own privacy,
so I can focus on my study, to targetto achieve my goals. I love my parents to complete forms and
reading notes from school, reading my diary every Monday to Friday morning.
Checking to see that I have completed my homework and signed.Making sure that communication from school is
attended to. Signing my diary, Commenting on how well I do with all my stars at
school for doing well. Not forgetting to ask me what can they do to help with any
problem that was identify from my teacher/school or myself. Saying good-bye wishing me a
good day at school.Letting me know that
the school know the no to contact if there is a problem with me or my sisters and brothers.
Student N. I love my parents to pick up the warning signs in me if I am likely to get in trouble, and asking me questions in a more child friendly way. Reminding me that I
can share my problems with them anytime, does not matter how bad it is.I love them to share with me their problems too.
I am willing to learn and want to support them if I could and we can assure each other that we can share my and their problems. I love to share with my teacher too any problems that I felt that I can talk to them if I feel the need to talk.
Student O. I love my parents to provide me with clean underwear, clean
singlet, clean socks, uniforms, shining shoes, a good breakfast with cereals,
orange juice or cup of milk with Paw paw (Pacific Islander’s favorites). I love to clean my
teeth, have a good shower dress up and look at myself in the mirror and happy at looking at myself.I love to be so proud and happy to know that I look great
and cannot wait to be at school.
Student P. Being a good parents to me and my sisters and brothers I learned and will Check
that my school accessories are in my school back, lunch, diary, ID/Bus ticket,
notes and forms, same to my sisters and l brothers.I feel good knowing that I am playing parents
to my sisters and brothers.On the way to
school, I love the comments that neighbors, strangers, teachers and children at
school commenting. That’s the boy, you take care of your sisters and
brothers. You all look beautiful, I feel at home at school, at home, everywhere,
why? My parents provide for me and there is no space for anyone to tease
me or look down on me.I am proud of my
parents;very proud of my family.so proud to be a Pacific Islander Australian.
Student Q. I
would love every Pacific Islander Parents to do the same to their children. I
can see it will work.Every parent wants
the best for their families and children.Sometimes
circumstances do not allow that to happen. Sometimes the resources are not
available.Good Parenting is children’s
Certainty for a promising future. Start little, and it will grow and grow and eventually, it will elevate enormously to the next level. Whatever you and I do. When things
are great at home, a good relationship willdeveloped with my teacher, children, and the whole community everywhere.This is great for me, I am happy at home at school and
everywhere. The school, my teachers, my family and friends are happy with my
performances, we support each other whenever is needed. We are all winners.
Student R. I
am happy with no bullies in my school. I will not bully anyone, so I expect no
bully from others in school, and in my community, I am happy when teachers are
in the playground watching us play and answer to any issues in the playground. I like my teachers to sort the problem on the
spot, so can bullies understand that it is not right to be bullies. I am happy to play peacemaker if needed.Mistakes are opportunity for me to learn and
correct myself, my parents, elders, teacher and authorities. I am happy where I
can have access to the Computer, technology of modern times, I am happy to play
sport, dramas at school.
Student S. I am happy to have discussions of ideas with
teachers and students.I like to hear
what they need and want and I like to give away mine.I like teachers to encourage parents to
communicate with them to see what are the wants and needs of individuals.I love my parents to attend every parent
meeting that they are invited to, I like to share with others my secret of
doing well.I know that I am happy at
home, at school, in the community due to my parents’ good parenting provided to
my family, I am happy to see my parents to focus on the importance of being a good parent.I ama happy and contented person. I enjoy growing up as a
child, a youth to the fullest and be part of a loving family and live a good
citizen.
Student T. I am happy and excited and thankful for my
parents forproviding my want and
need. To some it stopped, others are not allowed to give others the satisfaction to either,
tease me, bully, me, abuse me, look down on me and other forms of abuse. My
family has developed a good foundation and atmosphere at a very young age for
me and my family. They do it for us as children and for them as their duty of
care.
Student U. Now mum is ready to go to work .Mum was a full time homemaker when we were at
primary school, I was happy whenmum was
there to pick us up from school,love
the snacks to munch on when we got home, love the way she take care of my sisters and brothers and I, when I turn 16 years of age to take
over from Mum to take care of my sisters and brothers who are in
year 7 and 8.I am happy for mum to go
back to work to help dad, I am happy to realize that I got responsibility and
to contribute to run the family when mum and dad are still at work. My family
and I are Happy at home, happy at school, happy everywhere.
Student V. I
am happy for mum and dad working their best to meet all our needs.I will not like it if mum and dad said to me
to hurry up finish my year 10 to go and work to support the family.Some Pacific Islander friend said that their
parents told them to stop going to school to go to work because they can no
longer provided for them.These children
are very disappointed and worried about it. I wanted my parents to encourage me to further education.
Student W. I
am happy to meet my brother and sister in the corner to take the train and bus
home. I am happy if they requested to go to the shops for anything they need or
want from the shop. I am happy to share the load of doing work allocated to me
by my parents.After a snack, I am happy
to sit around and have a little rest.I
am happy to do my homework and willing to help with my sisters and brothers with
any problems they are facing with their School work or any issues that they bring to my attention.
Student X. I
love to do a brainstorming forum with mum dad, my sister,s brothers, my school authorities and my community. On what they expect of us and what we expect of them.Anything that bother us or bother them.These ways we can get feedback at home at
school. I am happy to talk about communication with the school that needed
attention from the parents.Happy with
all of us to get those and ready for the right time for my parents to attended
to. These including diary, homework, sport and issues.I
would like to have a special table in the corner and name it Parents Corner. I would like mumand dad to read it every Monday to Friday.
Student Y. I enjoy my parents cooking, they enjoy my
cooking as well.I enjoy eating as a
family.I enjoy the blessing that is
said by every member of the family taking turns. We thank God for the good
health, mind and soul which made live so fulfilling as a family as a
community.This is an opportunity for us
to talk openly on any topic, especially reflecting on the kids day at school
and how Mum and Dad enjoyed their day at work too.
Student Z. I like the Saturday and weekend for mum and my
sisters to do housework,Me to look after
the front and the back and do gardening.Dad and my little brothers to go shopping and I mow the lawn.I like my family to enjoy sports too after our
chores.I like my family to attend mass
every Sunday putting in a donation of $10 for the church.( Not the Pacific Islander way that they put
all their life saving to the Pacific Islander church and sending remittances to
Tonga
and neglecting the family) I hate that, If it happened it destroy me personally
because it will disrupt the whole family. I would like my parents to make their
priority the family first all times.Most
of my Pacific Islander’s friends said that why they don’t get this and that
because their parents rather give to the church than paying for their uniform,
books, and others.
Youth 1. Charity
starts at home. In our spare time to do volunteer work 2 hrs a week each from
the family will be fine. On a Friday
afternoon after school on our way home. To my local community, I would like my
family to walk a lot more instead of using cars all the time, I would like my
family to spend sparingly, carefully, moderately, healthily.I would like my family not to watch TV too much
with the exception of news or good documentary. I would like my family to watch ABC news. To
develop reading and exercise, sports, music, drama, craft, cooking, traveling
when afforded.
a parent. We are in Australia and we
haveto appreciate and be proud to be
Australian,to change our attitudes
striving our best of our best,contributing genuinely, I want my children to play sport and one day be so proud toplay for Canterbury Bulldogs, but must
finished their education, first,go to
University, focus on a targeted career that will give them good futures.A wife and a homeand lots of children where the people we love
and dear to our hearts,
parents, sisters and brothers, aunties, uncles, grandmas and
grandpas will enjoy life together.We can all contributing our individual strengths, working in partners with the
community and others, thanking Australia
for the opportunity that given to us and we are so proud to call Australia
our home.
a Youth. My
goal To complete HSC, UNIVERSITY DEGREE, GET A GOOD JOB; I would like to meet
my future wife after I got a good job.My dream is to meet someone at work or my University friends. Settle
down with a good wife, with almost the same values as mine.To live a life, of peace and harmony and live
as a good citizen.Follow the model set
by the parents like all of the above and willing to change for the better when time
comes for the sake of my children and the community.I would like my future family to develop
genuine positive approach and I will support them with all I can.After I settle down I will get involve with
the Labor party, I want to become a labor senate.I want to contribute to the country in a more
public way.
Everyone's. Those
are our wishes for ourselves, and families as Pacific Islanders,I am sure most islander children will have
the same wishes as ours.Now we are contented and our foundation are secure.Our parents, friends, relatives, and the public we can deal with them in any level.We are now happy Pacific Islanders.A good future, a good citizen, and we will be
so proud to be such good Pacific Islanders Australian.We will now make our parents proud , satisfied
within ourselves, contributing to Australia,
in more positive ways.
PISSAM Principal Researcher/program Director's Poem! My DreamSchool
My
dream is to be in a special school,a
school where I can feel safe, where I am treated the same as every other child,
where I am treated with respect and dignity, a place where I feel that I
belong, where I feel free to explore myself and my environment, a place where I
find love, peace and security, where I have nutritious food to eat when am
hungry, where I can turn on the tap and drink, fresh, cool, clean water when I
am thirsty, where I have a shade tree to sit under when the sun is too hot,
where the grass is green and I have a place to play, a place where I find lots
of friends, where my teachers are caring and always on time and be in the
classroom to make sure we are all there , and my parents are supportive.A place where I am excited to go each day, a
place where I am not abused or harassed,.A place free of drugs and full of fun, and lots of beautiful flowers,
red, yellow, white and all sort of colors.My special school is a place where I am free to love, to learn and to
grow in every way.A place where I am
protected from the wind, the sun, the rain, and cold.Regardless of my race, my religion, my
cultures, or where I come from.I am
nurtured as a very very special person’
Everyone's wishes.At
school, I am happy to have a teacher, who care, love, support and to teach
every student her best of her best, his best of his best.My
teacher to compliment when I do my best, to discipline, me take charge, take
action and take control of every situations that get out of hand.My teacher to understand and to fight for my
Pacific Islanders students who suffer as a result of cultural misunderstanding
traditions with parents and children’s cognitive development, self esteem,
culture shock, sense of identity and affinity with Pacific Islander culture are
detrimentally affected.Keeping in mind that
Pacific Islanders they have strong commitment to multi-cultural
integrations.Response from the
community will be more positive on events performance than rather one to one
with their child with teachers.Islanders are not so interested on long terms goals.They rather be encouraged on short term goals
and in group.
Everyone's wishes. I
will love my teachers not to have the perception that as a Pacific Islander I
am willing to learn, I am not a no hoper .My teacher has to give me her best and I will give back my my best.Forget about my size and look and what is on
the news about islanders considered as violent in public which we have seen a
lot of deaths occurred lately.Ignore
that, do not paint that picture on me.I
want to leave that behind.Look at me
differently, deal with me,Educate me
and my parents to go forward.We go back
to basics.
These are the wishes collected from consultation with children, parents, tutors and youths before homework session. January 2009 to updated 16/9/2009
Anne Latu's wishes for her Pacific Islander's Australian Community across Canterbury and beyond. To have a community that have strong, accountability leaders that response, listen, address, provide, advocate and to support the community to get opportunities that are available to them.
Year 12 Half Australian and half Pacific Islander student wishes on what he will be ! if he ever become a leader in the near future. His interpretation of Integrity and what he will find in a good community leader.
Honouring My Word
Doing what I said I would do, and doing it on time
Doing what I know to do, doing it as it was meant to be done, and doing it on time.
Doing what others would expect me to do, even if I haven't said I would do it, and doing it on time.
Whenever
I will not be doing any of the above, saying so, as soon as I realize I
won't be doing it, or, won't be doing it on time, and saying if I will
do it, and by when, or saying I won't be doing it at all
Dealing
with the consequence of me not doing it on time, or not doing it at
all, for all those who are impacted by me not doing it on time, or not
doing it at all.
I will listen to any issues that raised by my community, investigate, find a solution and fix the problem
I will make sure that my staff knows the in side out of the services that I provide and make sure that they follow and monitor the issues until the best result is found.
I will remind my staffs that we are there to provide a service, meaning that the best of the best providing the service that we suppose to provide.
I will make sure that the staff listen, take the issues of the clients seriously and vice versa.
I will make sure that my staff's communication with me will be followed through with any issues that raise by a client, documented and monitored till it get result.
I have always been a person of
Integrity, and being a human I have failed and all mistakes that I made in the past I learned but sometimes I have failed. All I have to do is every time I fall I have to get up and walk forward. I never understood why I seemed to have different views
on this subject than others. It is so strong with me that it directs me
everyday in my activities....For example!
I
am never late to an appointment!.. and if perchance I am going to be
late I will always contact the person to advise I will be late (even if
it is by only 1 minute!)
I won’t give any commitment to an agreement unless I am sure I can keep it!
I get concerned when people don’t keep their agreements with me, or don't offer an apology for not keeping those agreements!
I have noticed that I and sometimes others only want to know you when I or they want something.
Some people want you to scratch their back and do not want to scratch my back
I and some people will run down others and never considered their good work and not forgetting that every human being got something to offer and something bad. That is human being
This“strong point” is
with me everyday in my personal as well as my social, business and family life. I used to
be concerned about having it, but now I see that it is a great asset to
my way of living. I am courteous to my fellow human being, I show
respect to everybody, I would never rob anyone or take what is
not mine, and at the end of the day I always feel that I have
accomplished something when I have controlled my emotions when someone
doesn’t keep an agreement with me or something similar. The truth hurts but in the long run it will bring comfort to me, you and the Whole community.
Me? 2010? Well I’d like someone to give me season five of The Wire for a start. Right now.
Otherwise
it would be great in this election year to get a sense that the
business of government amounted to more than empty promises wrapped
thinly in the smooth practice of pure politics.
If 2009
all-but proved one thing it was that our current notions of public
administration seem inadequate to the task of acting convincingly
against any problem of piercing significance.
Yes I’m talking
about you climate change, but also about water, infrastructure,
education, health ... all the stuff that is the constant subject of
political gesture, but stuff rarely actually altered by any of the
theatre in which it gets star billing.
Seldom is anything ever
fixed ... because the sad consequence of action is that somewhere,
somehow a vote will be lost and thus, in as self-referential and
nervous a parliamentary democracy as ours, where the priority is not to
act but to endure, is stagnation, and procrastination – and perhaps
ultimately destruction and chaos - born.
And I want Brendan Fevola to drink a lot. Carlton fans will know why.
We asked a range of others to tells us their dreams for the new year.
Sophie Cunningham, Meanjin editor and author
I
find it almost impossible to write these kind of things without
sounding like a sap, but let's face it, hope is not a fashion
statement, so here goes: what I want more than anything else in 2010
and, indeed, the decade beyond, is for the Climate Change debate to
rise above petty squabbling and ideological warfare, so that it's
possible, finally, to do what we can to modify or control the impact on
our planet and the animals that live on it.
I want governments -
in Australia and elsewhere - to provide leadership and set out their
reasoning for action rather than responding to opinion polls in a
knee-jerk way.
I want a government that doesn't develop policy
with an eye on the next election. I want a media which doesn't dwell on
the mundane details of a golfer's, or cricketer's or a whoever's sexual
life, but that instead provides analysis of things that matter.
I want less government-sanctioned homophobia. I don't want to hear the phrase 'Australian Families' one more time. Ever.
I
want more satire and jokes. I want to get fitter. I don't want to ever
have insomnia again. I want to read more books. I want to write more
books. I want people to keep reading books but I don't mind if those
books aren't made of paper.
I want the people I love to be well and the people I don't love to be well also. Except for Tony Abbott.
John Safran, comedian
Less demonic possessions.
Tony Abbott, Opposition leader
My
hope, obviously enough, is for a more safe, free, peaceful and
prosperous world in 2010. Unfortunately, this is just wishful thinking
without some effort to bring it about.
At a personal level,
I’ll be doing my bit to keep fellow Australians safe by patrolling with
the Queenscliff SLSC and serving with the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade.
At
a political level, I’ll be working with my Coalition colleagues to hold
the Rudd Government to account and to present effective and responsible
alternative policies in good time for the 2010 election.
In
the wake of Copenhagen, I hope the Government will rethink its
emissions trading scheme which, in the absence of a global system,
would penalise Australian industries without helping the environment.
I
hope that Australia can continue to avoid the worst fallout of the
global financial crisis and wish that Mr Rudd will be gracious enough
to give due credit to former Prime Ministers Hawke, Keating and Howard
for the reforms that have kept Australia strong.
I hope that
Mr Rudd will finally realise that you can’t buy popularity and will use
the coming Budget to put in place the next generation of reforms as
well as a plan to reel in the enormous debt the Government has accrued.
It would be tacky to hope for victory at the coming election
because all Australians should want the best side to win and I have to
demonstrate (rather than just to assume) that this is the Coalition.
Finally,
I should hope to spend time with my family but they know me well enough
to understand that this is very hard to manage for anyone in public
life.
Pamela Curr, refugee and human rights activist
That
the Immigration Department help the only surviving relatives of a young
man from Darfur to get out of hell to safety. It has been a whole year
that his young wife, teenage brother and brother-in-law have been in
hiding, waiting for a yes to join him in Australia.
This year his father died waiting, leaving the young ones to survive alone.
I
also wish that the 17 year old Afghani boy now locked up in an
Indonesian prison can get to Australia to join his sister in
Queeensland.
His father was slaughtered by the Taliban after
he refused to hand over his 15 year old daughter to an old mullah. We
found his sister two months back, with a name and address in Queensland.
Third
wish is that the brother of an Australian citizen is allowed to come to
Australia. He was enslaved by the Taliban for 8 years, digging and
carrying until he escaped this year and ran to Indonesia. He is the
only person I have heard say that the prison food there is OK - I guess
Taliban rations were worse.
I have a much longer list to run
through each night - this is just for a starters. My big global wish is
that the Rudd government start to resettle the refugees currently
warehoused in Indonesian prisons.
Mark Pesce, author, technologist, futurist.
We have become broad grazers of culture. Over the last decade, our ability to ‘go wide’ has reached unprecedented levels.
Whether
an uprising in Iran, a celebrity marriage gone sour, or the trivial
factoids which obsess us, we now have the tools to take it all in, all
the time, wherever we are.
The mainstream media have tried to follow us on or flight path into breadth, only succeeding in becoming more insubstantial.
But the time for breadth is over. We’ve passed the test – with high marks. We need to move along.
The
other and mostly unexplored axis of an information-saturated culture is
depth. Each of us has the capacity to dive in and learn more about
almost anything than ever before.
It nearly always starts with
Wikipedia, which then points you to another resource, which points to
another, and another, until, at the end, something like real mastery
has been achieved.
With depth comes judgment; walk a mile in
another’s shoes and you can know their thoughts. It’s not fast food,
but it is a nutritious meal.
It’s interesting to note that the
big movie this year (and probably the decade) is James Cameron’s
Avatar. Uttered at its climax, the film’s catch phrase is, ‘I see you.’
Three
words framing an experience of depth, one soul knowing the soul of
another. That might be too much to ask on a planet of nearly seven
billion souls, but we know we are lacking, and long to restore balance.
Depth must take its place alongside breadth as a core human capability
in the era of hyperinformation.
Without it, we will simply
evaporate into ephemera and trivia. But with it – and this is my dream
– we can reach the rock-solid core of being.
Chris Berg, columnist, IPA research fellow, author
Personally,
I want Apple’s upcoming tablet computer to be as good as it is in my
imagination – bigger and more functional than my iPhone, but small
enough to use on the tram without looking like a doofus.
The market for unnecessary gadgets that I desperately need is very competitive. I want Apple to win this round.
Politically,
2010 might be a nice time to assess the Rudd government’s performance.
Elections are usually good times for that. And unless the first half of
2010 sees a sudden burst of action, the Kevin Rudd government will be
able to go the election with largely the same proposals as it did in
2007.
The broadband network is still clipped to a drawing board
surrounded by threatening government negotiators and haggling Telstra
execs.
The great health reforms have yet to cohere into
anything other than motherhood statements. The education revolution has
been glumly rebranded as ‘building’ the education revolution.
When
it comes to government, less is more. Reform ambition is fine, but too
much ambition, undirected and distracted, rarely leads to success.
But
perhaps most importantly, the failure of Copenhagen, and the
immovability of national interests it has exposed, leaves the
government’s emissions trading scheme without its most obvious selling
point. The scheme’s endgame – a global agreement - is much further out
of sight than it was a month ago.
Until now, Kevin Rudd has
evoked the most catastrophic environmental scenarios to defend an
emissions trading scheme which will do nothing to stop them.
In
2009, action on climate change was a synonym for a specific emissions
trading scheme proposed by the government, and the hope for agreement
at Copenhagen. We enter 2010 with a very different political landscape,
both domestically and globally.
Certainly, the opposition’s counter-plan to regulate Australia into environmental submission is extremely ill-advised.
It’s
likely to be more costly and even less effective than the government’s
emissions trading scheme, which is a hell of an achievement.
But
it could, if we’re lucky, focus attention on the manifest flaws of the
government’s plan. After all, if Tony Abbott’s plan is stupid and
unrealistic, why is Kevin Rudd’s any better?
The government no
longer has to seduce the support of Malcolm Turnbull with lavish
industry compensation. Will Rudd alter his own scheme now that
Copenhagen is over and the opposition is now unambiguously hostile to
any sort of ETS?
But if we’re not lucky, we’ll have another
year – and an election – where our eyes are squarely on the opposition
soap opera, rather than the government’s accomplishments.
Julian Morrow, late of The Chaser
My
New Year's Resolution is not to make jokes about making wishes. And who
needs a wish? Tony Abbott is the Liberal leader; Chris Smith has been
publicly humiliated; Hey Hey It's Saturday is coming back ... most of
my comedy wishes have already come true.
Robert Manne, public intellectual, author
Mr
dream is that over the Christmas break Kevin Rudd decides to make
Australia a moral leader among the nations on climate change; that as a
result of his epiphany Australia opts for a heroic carbon reduction
target by 2020; and that as a consequence of this decision Labor wins
the election in November 2010 handsomely.
More modestly and realistically, that Geelong wins their third grand final in four years.
Catherine Deveny, comedian, columnist, author
My dreams for 2010?
Firstly
I have no interest in dreams unless they are mine or they are yours and
I’m in them. The response to “I’ve got to tell you about his amazing
dream I had,” should be enshrined in law as 1. Not you don’t 2. It
wasn’t amazing, trust me and 3. I couldn’t give a shit unless I’m in
it. And a decent speaking part. Not “and then you drove past in your
car. At least I think it was you.”
I’m nervous about sharing my dreams. Martin Luther King shared his dreams and look what happened to him.
My
dreams for 2010 will probably be the same as for 2009. It depends what
I’ve eaten before I go to bed. If I haven’t had pizza, cheese,
chocolate or LSD it will probably be that I’m at a parent teacher
interview not wearing pants and the teacher is a giant banana who is
telling me I haven’t done my homework and I try and convince her that
I’ve finished primary school and been to university. And then I’m
traveling on a plane without luggage. And I don’t know where I’m going.
Still no pants. And it’s not a dream. It’s real life.
Like all
people apart from politicians my hopes for 2010 are world peace and
freedom from hunger, poverty, discrimination and oppression. Oh and the
reintroduction of stoning for Channel Nine executives, religious
fundamentalists, people who ask you to bring your own meat to their
barbeques, parents with ‘gifted children’ and ‘climate change
skeptics’.
(Climate Change Skeptics (also known as morons) are
people who don’t believe in science purely because they a) can’t bear
to admit they couldn’t see it coming or may have contributed to it b)
don’t care because they assume by the time the real catastrophe happens
they’ll be old, dead or rich enough to buy their way out and or c)
refuse to accept the evidence because if they do they will have to
admit that it God doesn’t exist. Because if God existed wouldn’t we be
special enough for him to spare us?)
I’d like to see in the 2010
Federal election to be won by a party called ‘We Punch Babies In The
Face And Hate Everyone’ simply because they guarantee every household
in Australia a free solar hot water system, water tanks and grey water
conversion and cars that run on carbon dioxide and emit butterflies,
balloons and bubbles and that Judy Garland song Get Happy.
If I
could hope for something that could feasibly happen by this time next
year it would be the legalization of voluntary euthanasia. Or in the
case of my racist, bigoted, homophobic, judgmental, passive aggressive,
narcissistic wealthy grandmother involuntary euthanasia.
(And
wouldn’t it be a ripper year if genetic profiling revealed that Sam
Newman will live to the ripe old age of 130 just with erectile
dysfunction and faecal incontinence. Here’s hoping. Maybe I should pray
to Mary Mickillup.)
On Magic Mary, if you’re listening (and why
wouldn’t you be?) keep up the great work of being selective and
maddeningly random about the prayers you answer and at no stage perform
any miracles like a person born without legs waking up with legs after
praying to you. Treat em mean, keep em keen.
And Christians,
whatever you do don’t take an inventory of the people who’ve prayed
their guts out to Blessed Mary only to be ignored. Keep the dream alive
in 2010.
Julian Burnside, lawyer, human rights campaigner
The turn of a decade always gives pause for thought.
The
first decade of the 21st century has been awful. The events of
September 11, 2001 cast a pall across the decade. The War on Terror was
called in aid to justify special rendition, torture and indefinite
detention without trial. Principles of decency and accountability were
suddenly forgotten. Individual privacy was greatly eroded; government
secrecy was greatly increased. The old rules have been abandoned in the
impossible quest to make us safe from another outrage of fundamentalist
zealots.
The same decade saw the world recognise clearly that
global climate change was a reality, and that human activity was at
least partly responsible for it. It has generated a great deal of talk,
but not much action. The talks at Copenhagen achieved nothing, but left
me with a sense of dread that our species cannot act cooperatively,
even when faced with the prospect of catastrophic events.
We
can foresee and with effort forestall these events in order to save the
planet for future generations. But we cannot agree on what to do, and
everyone has a case for leaving the effort to someone else.
The
War on Terror will save, perhaps, a few thousand lives. The War on
Climate Change could save the human race. My wish for 2010 is that
governments and people the world over will recognise this simple fact,
and act accordingly.
Sean Dooley, Australia’s national birdwatching champion, author
Rather
than shift their conservation priorities away from threatened species
projects as was the case this year, I hope that the Federal Government
actually puts serious money towards the environment so that some
species actually make it off the threatened species list.
And personally I’d like to see a Grey Falcon. The bird not the car.
Gerard Oosterman, artist, teacher, breeder of alpacas
What would I like to see in 2010? A braver new world.
Without
doubt, a cessation of all coal burning power stations spewing CO2s at a
rate that will prevent my grandchildren from breathing without oxygen
masks. The mandatory installation of solar panels before development
approval can be given for any new housing development together with a
ban on electric hot storage water systems where gas is available. Also,
all electric hot water kettles to be phased out, replaced with
whistling kettles on the gas stove...
A prominent environment
expert once said that electric hot water storage tanks and kettles,
whether heated by solar or not, are like cutting butter with a chain
saw. Out with them, and pronto.
Also, all houses with heat
absorbing black tiled roofs to be given subsidy to change to light
colour. Maximum 1.5 bathrooms only, offset by obligatory bookshelves in
all rooms.
A kind of BUG A UP campaign to install loathing
towards those that continue, despite many warnings, to drive obscenely
large fuel gulping hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxides, CO belching four wheel
drive vehicles including SUVs, especially when those vehicles are
black.
Spray cans will be distributed for the more sensible
1200cc electric/gas/diesel combo car owners to spray those ratbags car
owners that defy all warnings. Those with spray on their fat cars will
thus be stigmatised and shamed, and, furthermore, they will only be
allowed to drive in slow lanes and by push power only.
To help
combat obesity, closure of all food-courts at shopping malls, with the
exception of coffee lounges with Portuguese cakes, Sushi bars and fruit
juice bars. All tuck shop mothers to be trained in giving dietary
guidance to school kids.
All McDonalds to be phased out,
replaced by Finnish, Estonian or Balkan black bread with cottage cheese
outlets. Those 'car stop' eating venues will be indicated by modest
signage portraying a thin but healthy couple with smiling kids munching
on black bread with rising sun and sheafs of golden brown Rye in the
background. Meat pies still OK, but one per family; no sauce.
Of
course, all this to be funded by steep increases in tax on all alcohol,
cigarettes, petrol, knee-high socks and drivers of hum vees and
enormous four wheelers.
A happy new year.
Julian
Cribb, Adjunct Professor in Science Communication at the University of
Technology Sydney and fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological
Sciences and Engineering
In the coming half century humanity
faces profound challenges: scarcities of water and energy, food
insecurity, poverty, global contamination, overpopulation, pandemic
disease and climate change.
None of these are beyond our powers as a species, or as a nation, to solve.
In
2010 I would like to see Australians taking each of these vast and
menacing challenges seriously, instead of ignoring them, making excuses
for inaction or most cynical of all, denying their very existence.
In
the 1960s we were world leaders in addressing the then global food
crisis and other international issues. It makes me ashamed to see how
frequently we nowadays turn aside from what is right, from our
responsibilities as global citizens, just because it is difficult, or
unpalatable, or does not please our rich, powerful and self-centred.
I
wonder what Sir John Crawford, Nugget Coombs and other great
Australians who carved out a leadership role for us half a century ago
would make of our present lack of resolution, our determination to be
sheep and do nothing unless every other country agrees to it. Our lack
of compassion - and guts.
In 2010 I would like to see
Australia rediscover its idealism, its nobility of spirit, its sense of
commitment to the rest of humanity.
Gregor Stronach, journalist, former writer for The Chaser
I
hope that the climate change sceptics turn out to be correct. Not
because I think that the environment movement's answer to holocaust
deniers deserve to be vindicated, but because it would be truly
wonderful if we weren't in imminent danger of rendering the planet
uninhabitable.
I hope that there are more celebrity deaths.
Because there's nothing I enjoy more than turning on the news and
hearing something like "Early reports indicate that the bomb blast in
Kandahar has claimed more than 100 lives, and left hundreds more injur…
we intrerrupt this bulletin to go live to Hollywood, where an
entertainer of some sort has died!" Priorities are important. I hope
that we somehow manage to get ours right.
But most importantly
I hope that the home my wife and I bought last week doesn’t fall down,
and that our baby is born healthy and into a world where headlines
aren’t dictated by celebrity mishaps or violent and pointless clashes
over ideology. I hope that life continues to be as easy as it has been
for me, that the countless blessings I enjoy each day continue and that
I can, perhaps, make my first tentative steps of the journey into
parenthood as well as my own parents did.
Keysar Trad, Islamic Friendship Association of Australia
When
asked to reflect, most of us have fears and aspirations for the future,
we fear the result of our mistakes, not only individually, but also
collectively.
Simultaneously, we have hopes and aspirations,
hopes that we can grow from the past and aspire to somehow, weave
through everything that has transpired and pre-empt future errors that
are likely to occur and find means of cooperation for a brighter, more
promising future.
To be honest, I cannot think of one person who
does not wish a brighter future for our world. The problem is not in
the ultimate ideal for which we all aspire. Quite often, the problem is
in the means we choose to achieve these ideals.
For some, such
ideals can only be achieved through personal authority. For others,
they are achieved through freedom, for others, a combination of
authority and freedom is required, because members of our human family
have differing levels of knowledge, type of skills and wisdom.
As Donne said: no person is an island!
In
essence, the Divine hand has ensured complementarities amongst created
beings, not only those who share the same era, but also historical
complementarities. Just as those before us contributed to our present
condition and to our collective wisdom, we also contribute to those who
will succeed us.
Every generation passes something to its successor.
There
is perpetuity, not only are we not an island amongst our peers, we are
also not an island removed from our history or our future. We are part
of a contemporary, historical and future narrative.
Parts of
this narrative have been recorded by us with varying degrees of
accuracy and parts of which are yet to be witnessed by human eyes.
Whilst
I am a religious person, I also believe that if we have more altruistic
intentions, we can write much of our future, for it is my religion that
tells me that future events are written by my hands.
The
future is a result of our actions, as in the Biblical adage, we reap
what we sow, this applies collectively just as much as it applies
individually.
In essence, whilst God is the ultimate author, the
narrative reflects what we are and what we are doing and it can change
if we change our intent and change what we do (Holy Qur'an 8:53).
My hopes for 2010 start with a prayer:
To repay our debts without stifling our economy.
For us all, especially the young, to be responsible enough to use our freedom wisely and to be more respectful of one another.
For
entrepreneurs to produce what is truly needed and useful with a quality
that retains its value, otherwise, we would remain a throw-away society
that pollutes not only through consumption, but also through
incompetence.
To reverse pollution on a global level, without
exploitation, without penalising the poor and without giving advantage
to one nation over another.
And most importantly: to look at
each other with compassion, affection and friendship as equals
regardless of our social standing or ethnic background or religious
affiliation.
Politicians
who haven't got their eye on the next election? That is the best of the
above dreams but who in their wildest dreams believes there are many
like that. Perhaps Nick Xenaphon, or the x independent Ted Mack? I'm
dreaming of a few more statesmen who really care about people and not
taxes from gambling and grog. But my dreams always seem to turn into
nightmares.......
My
wish is for a decent journalist, columnist or reporter to appear in
Australia somewhere (other than Chris Masters). A journalist who will
just give me well written news and events, not their narrow self
interested opinion. If you really want to know whats wrong with the
planet, it is the media and their slanted view based on primordial
mammalian politics and misguided attempts at social engineering..
What
is quite extraordinary to be found in these various posts and opinions
is the disconnect between climate change sceptics, and that of its
adherents.
Reading through the various blogs, I normally find
the sceptics are reasonably well read on the matter, and tend to argue
the case on the technical or scientific issues at hand.
Supporters
of climate change however tend to put forward a quasi religious or
faith based argument, with usually no technical merit whatsoever. This
usually means they have read nothing about the matter, apart from the
popular propaganda as managed by the government of the day, and are
prone to putting out pejorative statements accusing those who are
sceptical of being Deniers.
To accuse someone of being a Denier,
and this unsavoury trend has been adopted by many ABC journalists,
really means they have no substantive case to argue, but are reduced to
winning the discussion by trying to bully their opponents out of it.
There
may be a strong technical case for climate change, but no-one here has
ever mounted that argument, but rather relied on a plethora of alarmist
statements, completely unsupported by ewvidence or the quantitative
record, to show what is really happening. Unfortunately, our ABC is at
the forefront of this propagandist venture.
My
dream is that I could learn not to over-estimate other people, and not
to under-estimate myself. Equally, the breakthrough that would end
Multiple- Sclerosis, that would be something.
Heaven
only knows how many times I've cautioned Tomokatu against tap dancing
in stilettos, down stairs, while wearing a feathered mask and a corset
too tight for his current build....but alas! He ignored me.
I'm
here to let folk know that our beloved (well, sometimes) Tomokatu has
broken both ankles and as a just reward, is currently enjoying hospital
food and sporting lovely long white plaster boots.
He is
expected to be unable to get to Unleashed for a number of weeks. I'm
quite unsure which is making him the most uncomfortable - being
internetless or having broken ankles.
He and I thought it would be appropriate to let Unleashed contributors know that he's indisposed - not dead (yet!).
As
to Tomokatu's wish for 2010 - probably to be tap dancing again very
very soon. Uh...must check with him if that's what he really wants.
Start working towards an end to duopolies, in retailing and politics. Oh
and start working towards a single set of rules, regulations and
rewards for Australians rather than for QLDers, NSWelshman etc. -
bordrs are only lines on maps. And another thing start work on
banning smoking completely by 2020 - surely 10 years is enough time to
kick the addiction of nicotine and excise. And as Lindsay Fox says get off your arse and do it for yourself!
Gambling
has been introduced to pick up the fall in nicotine excise revenue
already, and that from alcohol is steady at multiple billions of
dollars.
About 6 billion dollars comes from functional alcoholics at various levels of addiction, last I heard.
The
record for ulterior results from the prohibition alternative, start
with the opium wars in China, proceed through Al Capone in the USA, and
reach a finale with Mexico, Afghanistan and Burma (who still have show
burnings of products whenever anyone outside is looking).
In each instance, groups we'd probably prefer weren't well funded with ready cash (for things like weapons) are.
For
2010 I wish that nations around the world would finally realise that
their global existence is more relevant than their national identities
are. I also wish that we in Australia were just a little less insulated
in our communities from taking responsibility for the consequences of
our actions. Those two ideas seem to me to have great synergy.
I
wish that holy people would quit pretending certainty without evidence
or at the very least resist the self righteous urge to force others to
defer to their moral arbitration on that account.
I wish that
all Australians would awaken to the joys of diversity and truly embrace
their multicultural heritage leaving poisonous xenophobia and jingoism
forgotten in their wake.
I wish the we'd find a new
determination to embrace quality ahead of quantity abandoning
population growth in favour of wealth creation that creates jobs and
prosperity. Instead of being a nation of apathetic commodities brokers
whose sole preserve is digging holes and selling our resources overseas
I wish we'd the will and endeavour to engage in value added tertiary
industries. Maybe some of the things that we could develop and
manufacture in a revitalised clever country might be technologies for
the sustainable means to secure our energy supplies. Those would be
goods worth exporting!
Last but not least I wish that when we
fail to achieve all this as we inevitably will that we retain some hope
and determination to get up and try all over again in 2011.
Quote: For
2010 I wish that nations around the world would finally realise that
their global existence is more relevant than their national identities
are.
As usual Hudson with your posts, I agree 1000%. For all the
moaning and irrational fears for a "one world government" moving
forward as the race of human beings, not as a collective of human
beings divided by cultural and subjective borders.
The case for doing so is crystal clear when you see what some people do to other people in the name of their "country".
George
Monbiot (sneered at in some climate debate threads) has written on
other subjects of course, including a whole book on the concept of a
"world democracy". The book is called Age of Consent. Interesting.
good list HG. many happy posts 2010; only one point of difference from me: can we credit Xmas gifts left by Santa to me as evidence of pronouncements made by 'holy people' :)
Julian Burnside for President! Why
can't we have a country where intelligent human beings with hearts and
minds have a major say in our way forward, instead of the ego-driven
dross which currently holds sway?
Maybe John wants still to be possessed but not by demons so much! So the possessions would be "less demonic"?
Of
course if you think that interpretation is quite as ridiculous as it
clearly is, then perhaps the original isn't much improved by superior
grammar either?
Did I miss something? It's Friday isn't it? I had one of those last week and, with any luck, there will be another next week.
Actually.
Jan 1 is the 12th birthday of our remaining Great Dane, Twiggy, she is
the last of her line and so we will take things one day at a time in
2010.
Personally, I never understood the fuss around the
changing from one date to the next, it's not as if anything momentous
takes place.
My
dream for Australia this year is that we all take responsibility for
ourselves and stop demanding that others do it for us. That we go back
to being a proud, hardworking, independent nation which didn't spend
more than it earned and hepled others who were unable to help
themselves without making them feel small about it.
I also wish
that those who choose to come here to make a new life for the,selves
and their families do just that and leave all their prejudices and
problems behind. We may be an easygoing lot here in Australia, but
don't push too hard - we're good scrappers.
I was fascinated by
the different wishes of the guest writers - it just goes to show that
some people will never grow up and that others shouldn't!
My
biggest wish is that by the time my grandchildren are adults that they
live in a world that is tolerant and not governed by fear.
Happy New Year to all and a safe and prosperous 2010.
PS
Jonathon, why was there no access for comment on the article about the
execution in China and the one about cricketand drinking?
Seriously, retrospectives for the 1990s could have been those from 2000s, and visa versa, with some proper noun changes.
In
fact, the decades of the 1970s and the 1980s can claim as many or more
terrorist attacks than the latter two decades, with the early incidents
being more regionally specific and involving many more aircraft hijacks.
About
the only change for the last 40 years seems to be an increase in
natural disasters involving climate conditions and extreme weather,
whilst volcano and earthquake are about equal in number for each of the
decades, more or less, by totals in magnitude and quantity.
The
commies in the basement have been replaced by terrorists in the attic,
and someone somewhere is still attempting genocide on someone else.
So little change that human civilization has become tediously dull and boring.
Anyway,
I began the year with accidental synchronicity in quoting "now for
something completely different" without knowing that Monty Python was
the ABC's first broadcast in 2010.
There have been a few 'flukes' like that, but I'm sure they mean nothing more than that, a fluke.
What is going to happen will, and even if we could do something about it, we probably won't.
As per SOP. React later, and do nothing right now. Everything counts upon credit.
I hope my dog has a great time. When he's happy everyone's happy.
Be
nice too to see a wheelchair ramp at the main entrance to the NSW Art
Gallery. Screw that back door by the dumpsters. Premier city be blowed!
Lastly
I hope that this thread will be the last reference ever, for evermore,
to new year's hopes, dreams, resolutions & aspirations. A silly,
futile & pointless exercise in filling newsprint, airwaves &
blogspace. Has to be true, my dog said so.
I'd like to see more kids reading, more kindness and more humour everywhere and specifically on Unleashed. No bullying in schools, homes or offices,(also not on Unleashed). Better relationships between men and women. More appreciation of beauty; in arts, nature, homes and houses. No flip-flops or crocs to be worn anywhere but on beaches.
I would also be happier if I could by Finnish ryebread at any supermarket.
Eh
! ... leave Crocs out of this - you either havn't worn them , you've
joined the fashion Gestapo or you live at the South Pole. The rest of
your comments are worthy of support.
rossta,
shh, don't tell anyone, but I do have a pair of Crocs; I thought they
might be handy for the farm, but no, no good because the holes on the
sides let pebbles, soil, grass seeds and other stuff in...also it's hot
here in Summer, so they make my feet sweat...
Happy
New Year I hope that 2010 will be a year where people as individuals
will become more focused on the needs of others. Hopefully more
progress will be made in the area of Climate Change, before the
Maldives and some Pacific nations go under water. Maybe some of you
might seriously consider making a sea change, making sure you do the
best for your families, but not getting sucked into the rut of making
money, taking on extra mortgages, and losing the value of enjoying life
and giving so that others can simply have life. Hopefully it might be a
year when we welcome Refugees, finally get rid of the legacy of Pauline
Hanson, which seems to still permeate both sides of politics, and where
we might believe that as individuals we actually can make a difference.
Finally if you have any spare cash after Christmas, and want to give to
an organisation that might be making a difference to the Planet,
Refugees and the Poor. Maybe this year should be called the year of the
individual, making a difference for our planet, the poor and the
Refugee. How about you join me in looking at what it means to live life
on the Road minus the crap and having these three priorities,
regardless of our faith or political perspectives. Happy New Year, may
it be a good year for those who don’t have a voice, because we who
have a voice have chosen to make a difference. Rev Peter A Overton
Blackall Range Maleny QLD
I
wish that the ABC practises what it preaches about fair and balanced
reporting rather than presenting the views and culture of its staff.
I
wish that people that make contributions on this forum like "I want the
people I love to be well and the people I don't love to be well also.
Except for Tony Abbott". And "(Climate Change Skeptics (also known as
morons) are people who don't believe in science..." start accepting the
fact that there normal people in the world that have different opinions
to them.
I wish the people that make these comments who profess
to understand the science broaden their minds and read blogs like the
30 million hit Voted Best Science Blog on the net "Watts Up With That"
that expresses thousands of well researched scientific views contrary
to the global warming dogma that most on these pages appear to
subscribe to.
I wish every-one including Tony Abbott and Kevin
Rudd, who work hard to make Australia a better place, best wishes for
2010 so that it may continue to be a thriving democracy with a fair go
for all.
And I wish for an end to ignorance, or failing that genuine open mindedness.
Not
a continual regurgitation of misinformation, and an unscientific
certainty that climate change is not happening in the face of clear
evidence to the contrary.
We are facing a multitude of social
and environmental problems, I sincerely hope that we stop worshiping
the deity of economic religion that will likely herald Easter Island 2.0
In
your dreams Cross, Abbott spoke for himself like most Liberal
politicians have to do to get their point across in the leftist mire of
the ABC and their predictable friends that swamp this forum in the
belief that theirs is a world view. How many other contributors
supporting Abbott did dear old editor in chief Jonathon Green allow to
speak compared to those against him?
George C, no-one is denying
Climate Change. Climate has continually changed for 4 and a half
billion years from the moment earth was born and will do so until the
sun explodes into a giant supernova. What is in question is how much
effect man made CO2 has on the world's climate compared to that of the
universe. If you think that we have the power to turn down a thermostat
like we do on our air conditioning then it is you that is still in
fantasia believing a continual regurgitation of fear from your ABC.
But
then I guess you would deny that the East Anglia Climate Research Unit
did anything wrong or had a biased opinion. And you would never ever
look at anything that questions their objectivity like this:
"In
your dreams Cross, Abbott spoke for himself like most Liberal
politicians have to do to get their point across in the leftist mire of
the ABC"
____
What on Earth is that supposed to mean? Abbott is THE ONLY politician to have been given space in this blog post.
Don't come here trying to say the ABC is biased against the Liberals.
Did any Labor politician get to give THEIR new year's wishes?
No.
Tune
into any ABC radio news bulletin. Therein you're bound to hear an
opinion bite from the Mad Abbott and/or one of his reactionary Shadow
'Ministers'. Usually it'll be both in the same bulletin. Followed then
by a variation in the next bulletin, and the next, and the next, and
the next ...
Don't try and tell us the ABC is biased against them. That's just more Miserable Liberal whingeing.
Australia
to bloom in the world with strong economy, educational achievements,
Technology, Research and Development. Australia to help those who from
disadvantaged countries to achieve their inspiration by facilitating
skilled migration. Let all those seeking employement get what they
like. Let climate control be implemented as to the satisfaction of all
Australians, Australia to lead the world in Climate control. Let
Religions bring emancipation and not barriers to harmony among all
human beings. All to help to build Australia for all irrespective where
they come from.
If
Keysar Trad of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia is
genuine about his compassionate affection and friendship towards others
who do not share his beliefs etc then why is it that the Muslim world
does not expose those within it's ranks who are in the ranks of those
opposed to all our great country stands for. I would happily support
any man who has tolerance and acceptance of others regardless of race
or religion even though I personally am of the belief that all religion
is man made and that more people have been murdered in this world over
religion than any other thing over the centuries. One only has to look
at the years of the inquisition or the crusades etc. If I had one wish
for the New Year to solve some of mankind's problems I would wish for a
world the is free od all religion. Then we may be able to get on better
with oneanother.
My
contribution to wishful thing is that Rudd scraps his ETS and pumps the
money he wants to give to Mugabe and his ilk into Australia.
Specifically, hospitals, schools, water and all those other failed
promises he made in 2007/09. Selfish? Perhaps, but at least the money will be put to good use. No-one
denies that the world is warming. The question is, why pick on Co2 as
the culprit? And why blame the human race for producing most of it?
There are too many flim-flam men in the warmists camp making careers
and fortunes to believe everything they say. That's why we're called
skeptics and not deniers.
Cross: Tony Abbott the darling of the ABC! You haven't been watching LateLine.
"Tony Abbott the darling of the ABC! You haven't been watching LateLine."
____
He
gets his ugly voice on practically every single news bulletin on ABC
Radio 24/7: Local Radio, Radio National, NewsRadio, Classic FM. Every
news bulletin, every network, any hour of the day, there's the Mad
Abbott spruiking his Liberal nonsense. Often accompanied by
"interviews" with his various reactionary Shadow 'Ministers'. He/they
get an awfully frequent run on 'AM', 'PM' and 'The World Today' too.
He's the ONLY politician to be quoted here on this blog post.
A spokesman for the Liberal front organisation, the IPA, is also published here.
No one from the Labor Party or associated organisations had THEIR New Year wishes published.
Abbott's side-kick, Barnyard Joyce, had a whole post to himself on the Drum Unleased a week or so ago.
Cross:
It's almost midnight and I know you need your beauty sleep so I'll be
brief. I don't listen to radio so I don't know who's been saying what
on that media, but as far as TV is concerned I can honestly say that
during the Copenhagen talks government spokepersons, were breastfed
questions that dripped with servility. Tony Boyd in particular
practically answered the questions himself.
Whereas Tony
Abbott and other opposition guests were harangued and talked down at
every opportunity. Tony Abbott had to tell Tony Boyd to stop talking
over his responses. Hardly a fair go?
As for Rudd, he's keeping
out of sight apart from wrapping a few christmas presents on TV. Maybe
he should make it a full time occupation? He's very good at covering up
what he really means with an impressive vocabulary.
Perhaps the reason why no one from the Labor party is on this blog or on TV/radio is because they have nothing relevant to say?
What
are you saying Cross, we should only be allowed to listen to people
like Phillip Adams twice a day salivating over the sound of his own
voice, Kerry O'Brien's soft interviews of members of the party he votes
for and cross examinations of the enemy, likewise for Tony Jones,
Virginia Trioli's ABC2 Breakfast where the only thing missing is the
party armband or jolly Richard Glover's constant little anti Liberal
innuendos on Drive Time? (just to name a few). And do you think we
should only be allowed to listen to ABC "experts" that are constantly
dragged up to support their cause.
How many opinions have you
heard against Mr Rudd's emissions taxation scheme apart from Abbott
himself? How many comments have you heard counteracting the mass
hysteria the ABC has created over the imminent death of the Barrier
Reef, forthcoming ghost metropolises and the sinking of the Pacific
Islands?
It is pointless talking to you Cross because you are
blinkered but I will say this, I am a tax payer who also supports the
ABC and I am not asking for world - just balanced and fair reporting.
Whenever the ABC drags up one of its "experts" I would like to hear the
other side. And when I hear the news headlines I want objective
reporting, not subjective persuasion. Cross, all I ask is to be allowed
to make my own mind up.
Lastly Cross, I would bet my house on
this, that if an anonymous census was taken within the ABC on who they
have always voted for, you would find the answer would be well above
90%. I think most people know the party.
Dunno
really, I'm giving up on the problems of the world. Not much I can do
personally so I guess I'm in it for me now, and as a retired person
I'll go for sloth and drunkenness - I'll lie about trying to catch up
on all the good books I've missed, potter in the garden when my partner
sees things that need doing, continue to have a taste (or three) in the
evenings, and post irrelevant opinions on Unleashed when the mood takes
me. Anyway, enjoy yourselves while you can, cos it ain't going to get
any better out there.
We have the power to change all of the above particulars that are mentioned. BUT NOT when we only use words like HOPE, WISH, DREAMS, LIKE, WANT. It takes action to change people.
Wouldn't
it be great if journalists took a look in the mirror and saw that they
are solely and entirely responsible for the pathetic rabble we have as
a government by perpetuating sensationalism to sell stories, failing to
scrutinise and objectively report the facts, and above all failing to
declare vested interests that affect their product and its' delivery.
Until
that happens, the business of government will amount to no more than
empty promises wrapped thinly in the smooth practice of pure political
spin and pork-barreling while nothing ever gets fixed.
Good one wizard. Just what I like to see, sink the slipper into the MSM from day one. Happy New Year Main Stream Media. For some reason the term 'biggest loser' just crossed my mind. Maybe just conincidence.
For
a new disfiguring disease to appear that only targets religious
fundamentalists, homophobes, crooked bankers and any other nasties I've
forgotten (oh yes, and Tony Abbott and his ilk - and I'll toss in
Catherines grandmother and Sam Newman for good measure although they
are probably included in the above categories).
Finally (to paraphrase the original song)- We need a whole lot less of Jesus and a lot more rock and roll.
I'm trying not to be hopping mad on this first day of 2010 ! The
pathetic ABC viewing offered for New Years eve , the presenter
sprooking the midnight fireworks ... did they arrive for people in the
bush and those unable to get to the harbour??? NO. Even though our hardly earned taxes went into the display funding. Its discriminatory and un- Australian.
Good on ya Abbott . Even in a forum like this, you cant resist going political. "rather tacky...," describes it exactly. My
wish is that you and your new look old front bench have the best seats
availble to watch Rudd govt re-elected,with the knowledge that when KR
retires,PM Ms Gillard will be there to be re-elected and continue the
reign. May the twentytens see you in Opposition.
Yeah,
since the Mad Abbott can't resist going on the political attack,
marring the spirit of this festive segment, and the Drum Unleashed of
course never misses the chance to give him and his associates a free
ride for his vile and violent rhetoric ...
My hope for election
year is that the Mad Abbott and the so-called Liberal Coalition suffer
the worst defeat in the party's history.
Bravo,
RoyB, I heartily aggree with your every sentiment and could not have
said it all better myself. I wish only to add how much I enjoyed the
contribution by Catherine Deveny. I had heard that to be a good
comedian one has to be pretty bright. She proves it.
Ah,well RoyB,I think you maybe seriously overating Rudd/Gillard and underating Abbott.
Rudd
has had a dream run until now,had two appeasing opposition leaders in
Nelson and Turnbull who would not make him accountable,having events
like the Vic bushfires and Qld floods where Rudd leapt at the
opportunity to use other peoples misery for his own self promotion,has
handed out a pile of borrowed money to buy popularity,Said "Sorry"
because it was politically correct to do so but it meant
nothing,relaxed border protection again because of PC, along with
conning a lot of people if we did not have an ETS and we would all
sizzle.He even sucked a few people in to believing he is a major player
on the world stage
Late last year saw the many Rudd defiencies
and his outright deceit starting to be exposed along with doubters
appearing from previously friendly ranks,and Abbott in 2010 will
accelerate this decline of your Dear Leader.
Memo
to Penny Wong. Use every trick in the book Penny to hide the decline.
We must have some cheering news. It will be a travesty if we cannot
explain it.
Well
said Keysar Trad : " And most importantly: to look at each other with
compassion, affection and friendship as equals regardless of our social
standing or ethnic background or religious affiliation." I would
like to add : To grow daily as aware empathic compassionate human
beings with a passion for human rights in parts of the world like Gaza.
Each man's unnecessary death diminishes me : observing & allowing
the treatment of, for instance, Palestinians - decade after decade
after decade - to continue unopposed diminishes us all .
I wanted to comment on Emma Alberichi's piece, but there was no provision for comment. She wrote concerning the mentally ill man who was executed in China. My concern is the whole mental illness package. When is a person classed as mental ill? Is it when they have an mental illness but refuse to consult a psychiatist? Is when they refuse to take their medication, as directed by a doctor or psychiatrist? Is it a person who has had numerous run in's with police and other authorities, who then claim mental illness in their defence? Or
is it a person who knows they have a particular mental disorder and
consult the appropriate medical authority, and follows the appropriate
treatments and recommendations? As I understand it, society's understanding of a mentally ill person encompasses all of the above. So
where does the responsibility, concerning such above mentioned cases,
lie. Shouldn't there be some enforced laws or rules concerning persons
with mental illness, other than when they are a danger to themselves or
others? When a person show tendencies to be teetering on the fringe of
sanity, where they could easily become a danger to themselves or
others? How many lives have been lost? Either from mentally ill
people taking the lives of others, or of themselves? How many town
police and hospital authorities have had valuable hours, and tax payer
dollars, spent in the pursuit of people who are not aware of their
actions, and who are not a danger to themselves or others? Why don't we
hear these figures more throughout the media?
This case in China
is a good case in point. Was he on medication? Was he taking it? Was he
seen to be capable of making informed choice? Who detrmines when a
person with mental illness is capable of making informed choice? If
he was under a psychiatrist, did the psychiatrist advise against the
patient going to China? Especially with China's stance on some forms of
mental illness. Isn't it time we had a thorough overhaul of the
whole mental illness system, especially psychiatry? After all, the days
when a person can only be helped when they ask for it, doesn't hold
water anymore. A person suffering from delusional illnesses, can't
determine such an importance choice. Shouldn't they have some
supportive system in place to assist in decision making on matters of
importance?
I hope this isn't out of place here, and only wish,
once again, that Emma had had a place for me to put such a comment at
the end of her blog.
For
Julian Burnside and Julian Crbb to keep keeping on, for John Safran to
come back with another few shows and for T Abbott to occassionally
think before he talks.
Who
cares? I know I don't, caring is pointless the world will get worse
every single year that is certainty and the problems will increase in
size & severity. But nobody will actually do anything to address
them because its too hard & we/they are not brave enough to do the
work or make the hard decisions 2009 is the year of failure, and its
just the beginning.
Call me Nihilistic but it can all end in a fiery crash for me.
We have the power to change all of the above particulars that are mentioned. BUT NOT when we only use words like HOPE, WISH, DREAMS, LIKE, WANT. It takes action to change people.
season 5 of The Wire... as brilliant as series 1 - 4. Newspaper people will identify with 5, the downfall of the paper press... The Wire is the only series i can watch over & over - i find something new everytime..... so, ABC2 is a 'must' each tuesday night.
This year give me ..... no more of Tiger's sex life (skite!) no more TV stations filming and encouraging morons harassing pedophiles good, responsible government who can spend the public purse wisely, well and effectively without an eye on the next election Anna Bligh to loose the election even if it is to Mickey Mouse proper government in Qld - yes Mickey Mouse WOULD do a better job someone who will fix the health system in a timely manner no more Tony Abbot - can't stand the little weasel or what he stands for climate change skeptics rounded up and sent to live at Maralinga a bit of humility from Kev more of Penny Wong - she's great no more cricket - they can go with the climate change skeptics and no more "celebrities" - I don't give a rats about Brittany lip syncing and going on binge .........and now the really tough stuff.... peace and harmony and food/shelter for everyone in the world world to do something good about climate change crisis That'll probably do it for me.
This year give me ..... no more of Tiger's sex life (skite!) no more TV stations filming and encouraging morons harassing pedophiles good, responsible government who can spend the public purse wisely, well and effectively without an eye on the next election Anna Bligh to loose the election even if it is to Mickey Mouse proper government in Qld - yes Mickey Mouse WOULD do a better job someone who will fix the health system in a timely manner no more Tony Abbot - can't stand the little weasel or what he stands for climate change skeptics rounded up and sent to live at Maralinga a bit of humility from Kev more of Penny Wong - she's great no more cricket - they can go with the climate change skeptics and no more "celebrities" - I don't give a rats about Brittany lip syncing and going on binge .........and now the really tough stuff.... peace and harmony and food/shelter for everyone in the world world to do something good about climate change crisis That'll probably do it for me.
The
Institute of Public Affairs, I reiterate, are no friends of the ABC.
(Though the ABC bends over backwards and sideways to give them repeated
floor-space on the Drun Unleashed blog).
Like the last fairy at Sleeping Beauty's christening, my wish counteracts all those made previously.
May
all the unpleasant things wished here for others be experienced by
those that wished them, and may all the fevered, manic, apocalyptic
Climate Change maenads realise their pseudoscientific inaccurate
computer-modelling, babbling gurus have led them widly astray. Peopla
are beginning to laugh at them,
I'm impressed, Joanne."May all the unpleasant things wished here for others be experienced by those that wished them..." Sounds
like the sort of thing Aeschylus would say, (Suppliant maidens? 7
against Thebes?) though you've used maenads, fevered and manic so it
could well be Euripides (Bacchae?) I agree with that sentiment,
though I disagree with your view on the climate change issue. I've no
doubt that there are some people who laugh at the scientists who've
studies this and who are sending us urgent warnings. It will be a
hollow and nauseous laughter if something is not done soon about
cutting down the greenhouse gases we are building up at an exponential
rate.
No,
not any Greek or Roman author, just Joanne getting carried away. But
here is a direct quote from Professor John Nott, Climatologist, of
James Cook University (2/1/10):
"We've been in a warm phase since 1977, but there is a major climate shift throughout the Pacific," he said.
"We've seen fewer cyclones and less flooding in the last 30 years compared to the previous 30 years."
Dr Nott compared the approaching conditions to the '60s and '70s, when cyclones hit the Gold Coast and Brisbane....
"We also need to factor in human-induced climate change, and we are still trying to understand those influences."
So..."We are still trying to understand those influences"...
My
career depends on primary sources and the evidence of eons too. The
science for AGW, aka Climate Change, is very far from settled.
The issue is not "climate change", it's *anthropogenic* climate changes, and the IPCC's bogeyman - anthropogenic CO2.
One
of my wishes for 2010 is that the majority of Australians would look at
the science of AGW, not just the IPCC propaganda. I would love the
intelligentsia and papparazi of our society to find something useful as
a cause celbre, such as helping our poverty stricken neighbours to help
themselves, rather than demonise plant food and divert $billions to
brokers such as those who have already corrupted the European ETS. The
DDT scare was bad enough (consider the current WHO approach to
malaria), but to declare CO2 a pollutant is a gobsmacking foolishness
that flies in the face of science *and* commonsense. I hope we have the
courage and wisdom to step back from that foolishness this year.
The
owner of this website and publication is PISSAM NETWORK,
which is under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony group Inc. auspice by
Riverwood Community Centre and its working partner. Content may not be
reproduced in any format or changed, sold or used to promote or endorse
any
product or service, inappropriate or misleading context..
Acknowledgment to the
PISSAM NETWORK & Its auspice body Riverwood Community Centre
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