Julia Gillard is Australia's First Female Prime Minister
This is a significant event, just as America's first Black President was momentous.
But it might just be more-of-the-same. She might be a dead loss - just like every other Prime Minister we've ever had - or are likely to have.
But, she deserves a chance to prove herself.
Well, if you are interested Hon Julia, here is a list of things that I, Wonko the Sane, believe should be your priority. You will probably disagree - if you indeed ever read this. But Wonko is not motivated by what he can 'get' out of life - only by the welfare and wellbeing of others. And that, by the way, sounds like the description of a Prime Minister.
So here's the list:
1. This internet censorship thing - it has to go. At best, those who want to will circumvent it and at worst, future governments will use it to restrict information to their advantage. We should not be following China's example here.
2. On that subject, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and someone who should be treated with respect. The present attitude of pleasuring the Chinese government despite the horrors perpetrated by them is unacceptable and by our own government's stand, we are not only aligned with China but also supportive of genocide and environmental destruction.
3. In this wonderful 21st century it is time that we learnt the true meaning of compassion. Factory farming (including the workarounds used by some chicken farmers) must be properly outlawed - including battery hens. Show the world that Australians have hearts and not just stomachs.
4. A growing proportion of Australians are Carers. They are looking after spouse, parents, children - yet they receive a very poor deal. Would you work for someone who provides no annual leave, no long service leave, 24x7 on-call hours, no public holidays and - perhaps most importantly - NO SUPERANNUATION? Would you Julia Gillard expect your children to be subjected to that? I don't think so. Carers are a growing breed and need much better support.
5. Climate Change is Real. Whether or not we are causing it or making it worse is something that we will argue until the planet dies it's ultimate death. But we can at least ensure that we ARE NOT making it worse. That much can be done. So lets do it.
Is there any chance that we will get a Leader who actually cares?
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Would you care if it were your child?
A child died today. Not from an accident or some genetic illness. It wasn't even murder. But from starvation.
24000 will die today. That's about sixteen tiny hearts that will stop every minute.
If it were your child, would you care?
Yet Nicole Richie can be paid $300,000 for the 'critical' world service of cutting ribbons.
No, she is not to blame - not for being paid. But what she does with the money - that's down to her and if she makes the decision to spend on herself rather than the 16 tiny children that have died in the space of reading this piece, well then she is responsible for that.
But the people who paid her that much money are in the opinion of Wonko the Sane guilty of something. Murder? No, not murder. At the moment, the non-saving of a human life is not considered murder.
But they are guilty. Yes, they are guilty.
Because they are part of the world where the tiny are left to die while the rich (and that's you and me by the way) sit back in comfort, safe in the knowledge that those children don't matter because we don't know them.
Only they do matter.
Just imagine if one of them was yours.
24000 will die today. That's about sixteen tiny hearts that will stop every minute.
If it were your child, would you care?
Yet Nicole Richie can be paid $300,000 for the 'critical' world service of cutting ribbons.
No, she is not to blame - not for being paid. But what she does with the money - that's down to her and if she makes the decision to spend on herself rather than the 16 tiny children that have died in the space of reading this piece, well then she is responsible for that.
But the people who paid her that much money are in the opinion of Wonko the Sane guilty of something. Murder? No, not murder. At the moment, the non-saving of a human life is not considered murder.
But they are guilty. Yes, they are guilty.
Because they are part of the world where the tiny are left to die while the rich (and that's you and me by the way) sit back in comfort, safe in the knowledge that those children don't matter because we don't know them.
Only they do matter.
Just imagine if one of them was yours.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The World Without Ears. Or Heart.
We live in a sickening world.
Last week there was the case of a Spanish bull that had been cloned to allow those who delight in the painful torture of an animal to death to continue their sordid enjoyments with as much sickening suffering as possible.
The world is without ears. Or Heart. Wonko's highlighting of this appalling example of Spain's backwards decent into the dark ages - of it's hideous nature of barbarism - has achieved nothing when he then reads of a twelve year old bullfighter. A new low for Spain. Child abuse and Animal abuse at the same time.
How much do the Spanish love torture and pain?
Last week there was the case of a Spanish bull that had been cloned to allow those who delight in the painful torture of an animal to death to continue their sordid enjoyments with as much sickening suffering as possible.
The world is without ears. Or Heart. Wonko's highlighting of this appalling example of Spain's backwards decent into the dark ages - of it's hideous nature of barbarism - has achieved nothing when he then reads of a twelve year old bullfighter. A new low for Spain. Child abuse and Animal abuse at the same time.
How much do the Spanish love torture and pain?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Why HUMAN has no E
What is Wonko on about now I hear you ask. Why does 'human' have no 'e'? Is he on drugs?
No, but he'd feel better if he was.
The words 'human' and 'humane' seem remarkably similar, at first view. But there is in fact a world of difference - and I don't just mean the spelling.
It is the HUMAN that is responsible for this monstrosity - Spanish Bull Cloned
Spain, in it's infinite HUMAN-ness (which is unrelated to HUMANE) have cloned a particularly fierce bull so that bull-fighting may perpetuate it's own variety of horrendous blood spilling.
All Spanish people should be ashamed at this absolute mis-use of science.
Bullfighting is the barbaric throwback to the stupid in charge of the cowardly. The torturous killing of a bull under the auspices of 'sport' belongs in the sorry history of a country proudly aiming for HUMANE rather than HUMAN.
Spain, however, prefers the word without the 'e'.
Plenty of people in Spain abhor this spectacle of cruelty. But plenty, it would seem, still relish in it. Like cannibals slicking their lips at the thought of eating their enemies sexual organs, they perpetuate this violence.
There is a big difference between HUMAN and HUMANE. And the E stands for ESPAÑOLES - and that is the difference between human and humane. Take away the 'e' and give it to the Spanish.
No, but he'd feel better if he was.
The words 'human' and 'humane' seem remarkably similar, at first view. But there is in fact a world of difference - and I don't just mean the spelling.
It is the HUMAN that is responsible for this monstrosity - Spanish Bull Cloned
Spain, in it's infinite HUMAN-ness (which is unrelated to HUMANE) have cloned a particularly fierce bull so that bull-fighting may perpetuate it's own variety of horrendous blood spilling.
All Spanish people should be ashamed at this absolute mis-use of science.
Bullfighting is the barbaric throwback to the stupid in charge of the cowardly. The torturous killing of a bull under the auspices of 'sport' belongs in the sorry history of a country proudly aiming for HUMANE rather than HUMAN.
Spain, however, prefers the word without the 'e'.
Plenty of people in Spain abhor this spectacle of cruelty. But plenty, it would seem, still relish in it. Like cannibals slicking their lips at the thought of eating their enemies sexual organs, they perpetuate this violence.
There is a big difference between HUMAN and HUMANE. And the E stands for ESPAÑOLES - and that is the difference between human and humane. Take away the 'e' and give it to the Spanish.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Global Warning and All That Jazz
Many people in the world are beginning to stress out about the number of earthquakes, volcanic activity and of course global warming. Counter balancing them are those who argue that there is no global warming and if there is then it is just a naturally cyclic event anyway, and definitely the number of earthquakes and eruptions is not unusual - just better reported.
Both sides of this argument have merit but I am not about to take sides.
My point is rather that we should be taking note of all of these events as a reminder that we are all residents of a living planet. It is not just a bunch of dirt that we can abuse to fulfill our own greedy materialistic desires. It is a fragile ecology that runs delicately and with its own rules.
The planet, in short, can not be taken for granted. Whether or not there are more earthquakes or volcanoes erupting is less important than recognizing that they are a normal and unavoidable part of a living planet that can shudder and shake without our help. Whether or not global warming is cyclic or not, as a general rule the human race pollutes the atmosphere and the earth with all manner of poisons and chemicals - all of which may hasten or hinder the normal operation of earths finely balanced ecosystem.
This is not a lump of rock to be used and abused, a resource to be exploited - it is our home and the only home we are likely to have in the foreseeable future. This is the great message of the Volcanoes, of the earthquakes, of the tsunamis. It is not some religious threat. It is simple fact.
Or to quote King Henry :
Both sides of this argument have merit but I am not about to take sides.
My point is rather that we should be taking note of all of these events as a reminder that we are all residents of a living planet. It is not just a bunch of dirt that we can abuse to fulfill our own greedy materialistic desires. It is a fragile ecology that runs delicately and with its own rules.
The planet, in short, can not be taken for granted. Whether or not there are more earthquakes or volcanoes erupting is less important than recognizing that they are a normal and unavoidable part of a living planet that can shudder and shake without our help. Whether or not global warming is cyclic or not, as a general rule the human race pollutes the atmosphere and the earth with all manner of poisons and chemicals - all of which may hasten or hinder the normal operation of earths finely balanced ecosystem.
This is not a lump of rock to be used and abused, a resource to be exploited - it is our home and the only home we are likely to have in the foreseeable future. This is the great message of the Volcanoes, of the earthquakes, of the tsunamis. It is not some religious threat. It is simple fact.
Or to quote King Henry :
Never Spit On Your Own Doorstep
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Political Correctness is the New Prejudice
All too often in this world, there is someone ready to be offended on someone else's behalf. And that is wrong - very wrong. Because it often leads to embarrassment, bad feeling and misery.
Take the example of Roy Amor.
He joked with a friend. It was his friend that he joked with. His friend was not offended because his friend knew it was a joke. They were, in the great Australian tradition, mates. Unlike many Australians, Roy was not afraid to be friends with others. The fact that his friend was a different colour to him did not affect their relationship. It wouldn't because neither Roy nor his friend were racists.
Yet Roy is now dead.
The reason Roy is dead is because of racism - don't doubt it. But not his racism.
A passerby overhead Roy's joke with his friend. And while his friend laughed with Roy as mates do - genuinely and with affection - the passerby did not. The passerby elected to be offended on behalf of Roy's friend and raised the joke as the act of a racist and Roy was thus the subject of an investigation.
Roy, the non-racist, whose friendship with others cared not for their race, colour or creed, felt so intimidated by the allegations of racism that he committed suicide.
The passerby, for whom colour was obviously an issue yet who considers themselves non-racist, must now consider the degree to which they are responsible for Roy's death.
Roy should not has committed suicide. It was not a reasonable thing to do. Plainly, he must have had other problems, other concerns on his mind. Clearly, there was much in Roy's life that influenced him. This case of political correctness gone mad just pushed the balance.
But that's the problem with taking on other people's 'offendedness'. Being offended on someone else's behalf might well be a good thing - we should all be offended at racism. But it is important to do so only when there is good reason. In other words, when there actually is a victim who is offended.
Many years ago, I worked with a close knit group of people. An obviously faked performance report was created for one in the group in a manner calculated to create much merriment with the person. It did. They were ecstatic and very pleased. A manager saw the report and the 'victim' was extremely embarrassed by the fiasco that followed which involved the flaying alive and severe tongue-lashing of the 'culprits'. Needless to say, the 'victim' was very upset. Not by the joke of which they fully approved, but by the result of the manager offended on their behalf. A manager who didn't even have the brains or consideration to talk to the 'victim' about it.
In Roy's case, as has been said, there were probably other things going on in his life or his mind that contributed to his death. But think about it - we all have other things going on in our lives. Who else will die because someone projects their own special variety of prejudice on someone else?
You cannot generalize in such situations. Humour, especially, is a very subjective thing. It is not something you can legislate on. If John (very tall) Cleese makes a joke about short people, a thousand people will be offended on behalf of the short. Yet if Ronnie Corbett tells the same joke, no-one is offended. Steady Eddy could see the humour in his disability - or at least in what others with prejudice call a disability. Should we stone him? What if he was 'normal' - can we stone him then?
Racism - like most ISMs - is not right and should not be tolerated. People, especially in the workplace or the school - should not be subjected to racism, bullying, sexism or any other discriminatory treatment. We need zero tolerance.
But we need to be zero tolerant to discriminatory treatment. In Roy's friend's case, there was no discrimination. Except against Roy.
Political Correctness surely is the new prejudice.
Take the example of Roy Amor.
He joked with a friend. It was his friend that he joked with. His friend was not offended because his friend knew it was a joke. They were, in the great Australian tradition, mates. Unlike many Australians, Roy was not afraid to be friends with others. The fact that his friend was a different colour to him did not affect their relationship. It wouldn't because neither Roy nor his friend were racists.
Yet Roy is now dead.
The reason Roy is dead is because of racism - don't doubt it. But not his racism.
A passerby overhead Roy's joke with his friend. And while his friend laughed with Roy as mates do - genuinely and with affection - the passerby did not. The passerby elected to be offended on behalf of Roy's friend and raised the joke as the act of a racist and Roy was thus the subject of an investigation.
Roy, the non-racist, whose friendship with others cared not for their race, colour or creed, felt so intimidated by the allegations of racism that he committed suicide.
The passerby, for whom colour was obviously an issue yet who considers themselves non-racist, must now consider the degree to which they are responsible for Roy's death.
Roy should not has committed suicide. It was not a reasonable thing to do. Plainly, he must have had other problems, other concerns on his mind. Clearly, there was much in Roy's life that influenced him. This case of political correctness gone mad just pushed the balance.
But that's the problem with taking on other people's 'offendedness'. Being offended on someone else's behalf might well be a good thing - we should all be offended at racism. But it is important to do so only when there is good reason. In other words, when there actually is a victim who is offended.
Many years ago, I worked with a close knit group of people. An obviously faked performance report was created for one in the group in a manner calculated to create much merriment with the person. It did. They were ecstatic and very pleased. A manager saw the report and the 'victim' was extremely embarrassed by the fiasco that followed which involved the flaying alive and severe tongue-lashing of the 'culprits'. Needless to say, the 'victim' was very upset. Not by the joke of which they fully approved, but by the result of the manager offended on their behalf. A manager who didn't even have the brains or consideration to talk to the 'victim' about it.
In Roy's case, as has been said, there were probably other things going on in his life or his mind that contributed to his death. But think about it - we all have other things going on in our lives. Who else will die because someone projects their own special variety of prejudice on someone else?
You cannot generalize in such situations. Humour, especially, is a very subjective thing. It is not something you can legislate on. If John (very tall) Cleese makes a joke about short people, a thousand people will be offended on behalf of the short. Yet if Ronnie Corbett tells the same joke, no-one is offended. Steady Eddy could see the humour in his disability - or at least in what others with prejudice call a disability. Should we stone him? What if he was 'normal' - can we stone him then?
Racism - like most ISMs - is not right and should not be tolerated. People, especially in the workplace or the school - should not be subjected to racism, bullying, sexism or any other discriminatory treatment. We need zero tolerance.
But we need to be zero tolerant to discriminatory treatment. In Roy's friend's case, there was no discrimination. Except against Roy.
Political Correctness surely is the new prejudice.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Sick Australia
I am sorry to say that I am rapidly become disenchanted with Australia.
But it's not the people, per say, and definitely not the country. It's the government - which includes the bureaucratic thieves and other criminals who treat Australians with contempt.
Consider then, the case of Rebecca Doig and her family.
She has early onset dementia. I am not going to go into the details - read the above link.
What I will say is that Australia is failing these people as I personally know it has failed many others. Pensioners live in their own faeces because those with the power to change it sit back on their fat behinds picking their noses with one hundred dollar bills that they have 'earnt' in their so-called social security jobs.
People are run into the ground caring for others - and receive nothing for it. I saw a wonderful t-shirt the other day. It summed the situation up beautifully.
No Overtime
No Public Holidays
No Annual Leave
No Long Service Leave
No Superannuation
Hours - 24x7
$1.73 per hour
The biggest rub of these is the 'No Superannuation'. Not only do carers lose their present - they lose their future as well. And our government doesn't give a damn.
And Rebecca Doig doesn't even get a pension.
I curse them all for lining their own pockets while letting those in need suffer.
It is the Sick Australia.
And if you don't like it - then start lobbying Centrelink, as a starting point, for change.
But it's not the people, per say, and definitely not the country. It's the government - which includes the bureaucratic thieves and other criminals who treat Australians with contempt.
Consider then, the case of Rebecca Doig and her family.
She has early onset dementia. I am not going to go into the details - read the above link.
What I will say is that Australia is failing these people as I personally know it has failed many others. Pensioners live in their own faeces because those with the power to change it sit back on their fat behinds picking their noses with one hundred dollar bills that they have 'earnt' in their so-called social security jobs.
People are run into the ground caring for others - and receive nothing for it. I saw a wonderful t-shirt the other day. It summed the situation up beautifully.
The biggest rub of these is the 'No Superannuation'. Not only do carers lose their present - they lose their future as well. And our government doesn't give a damn.
And Rebecca Doig doesn't even get a pension.
I curse them all for lining their own pockets while letting those in need suffer.
It is the Sick Australia.
And if you don't like it - then start lobbying Centrelink, as a starting point, for change.
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