Leaving aside my sarcasm and satire for a moment, the move by president George Bush to talk with the Iranian regime is a move in the right direction. After many years of hard-lining and placing them in "the axis of evil", the US administration has started the hard yards of dialogue. No one said it was going to be easy but it's better than bombing, unless his plan is to talk then bomb. (Oops, sorry. my addiction to sarcasm takes the better of me here, forgive me). But I am prepared to believe there is a change in the air, although reading the latest news it sound like his approach is more like an ultimatum. But to better things...

Music.

The AMCF is a foundation designed to help mostly disadvantaged kids out of the doldrums by making them discover music. Well thought-out by Don Spencer, the founder, — with many years spent as a musician and entertainer from "The Don Spencer Show (in the 1960s) to Playschool on the ABC — the foundation organises music ambassadors and teachers to poor schools, to Aboriginal areas and to juvenile detention centres. The extraordinary positive results speak for themselves. The Foundation also only organises a venture until it is fully funded for a full 12 months.

Music Ambassadors include many musos like composer songwriter singer Alan Caswell and Tim Freedman of the Whitlams. The foundation get the support of artists like Jack Thompson and of many music professionals and teachers who go to places where "some young people shoot roos for entertainment and kids aged eight drive utes because dad is too pissed". The enthusiasm from the kids is unbelievable: they are eager to use their energy to develop skills or just mark about, through music. Some compose songs and win contests...

The Foundation also supplies musical instruments of all kind for the kids to use.

If the world was using guitars rather than guns we'd be a much better place.

Sister "C" was in Sydney town for the Popefeist... She's oldish but young of spirit and was part of a troop of young adults, without being their nanny. She was not really in favour of the "popelywood show" that was the "stations of the cross" nor was she fanatic about the man paraded in the fishbowl called a pope mobile, but she is in line with a more personal faith held to help the underprivileged survive and overcome the pressures — not from "evil" — but from other human's greed and power. She did not go to Randwick "because of her rheumatism"... I believe it was a mild form of protest.

Sister "C" spent many many years in Africa teaching and helping women. She argued with vigour that contrary to popular beliefs that "Africa is not poor". "No", she said emphatically, "Africa is rich but the big powerful countries covertly organise permanent wars between the people there, in order to gain control of the assets — through supporting the tinpots of the day, and supplying their opposition with weapons as well." By weakening the local population through division, the price of resources stays at rock bottom. Some countries are really poor of mineral resources but, not strangely enough, are at peace. Countries where there is petrol and other natural resources such as gold, uranium and copper are vastly "poorer" because of permanent conflicts. People die daily from "civil" wars. And not just in Darfur. Darfur is only a small distraction compared to the rest, including Zaire. That is why so many tinpots in Africa are weary of touching Mugabe. They are more or less in the same boat economically and politically. And the west's influence is also counterbalanced by the Chinese... and the "Muslims".

Sister "C' was from the west, sure. But she was helping women becoming "liberated' and proud, not through religion but via humanity, medicines and understanding... Sure religion played a part in supporting an infrastructure of churches and schools but also integrated and to a great extent diluted itself in the local culture, making it stronger and more empowering for women. Strangely enough all of the moneys — needed to support her work and that of the others sisters there — came from philanthropic organisations rather than the system of Church.

Sister "C" is from a vanishing brood of Catholic sisters. Not new... The story by Geraldine Doogue on Compass (ABC) last night (20/07/08) was also telling of the dwindling ranks of priests in the Catholic Church. But back to Sister "C". Sister "C" fiercely opposes Genetically Modified crops for Africa (and all earth too). In most places African crops are profitably and sustainably organic and in some regions a small dose of fertilizers can help but is often not necessary if land is managed well. Lack of water can be problematic but that would be the least of the problems. Sure the work is labour intensive but the labour is "happy to provide" and be employed rather than clear fell and cultivate alla modern bulldozer — a technique that enriches the rich, destroys "culture" and wipes out a "differently rich civilisation". GM crops would make the local poor-folks, (poor in comparison with the west but in fact often richer in spirit and in relationships) poorer by making them crushingly dependent of multinationals. As well some western powerful multinational companies make sure they undercut the price (at a loss for a while — till they get what they want) of comparable local produce with their imported goods that eventually kill local economies. Once collapsed these micro economies become reliant exclusively on imported goods and hand outs from whichever charity is the flavour of the month... The list of multinationals is long....

Sister "C" is repulsed by the Bushes of this world waging wars under the name of "god". She's is "a bit" annoyed at the Pope rubbing shoulders with what is mostly a hooligan. a "banditto": G W Bush.

Sister "C" prayed for a better world and for her lifetime's work not to be wiped out by five minutes from the warriors. She's not "hopeful", although she is strongly dedicated that it won't happen, Pope or no Pope.

Bryce right for G-G job, says Jeffery

Outgoing Governor-General Michael Jeffery says his replacement is the right person for the job - regardless of her gender.

Quentin Bryce, the first woman to be appointed to the role, will be sworn in this week.

Major General Jeffery praised Ms Bryce.

"She's a charming, articulate and highly motivated lady and she will do an outstanding job for the country," he told Sky News.

"The fact that she is a woman I think is an added bonus but I'm never one to put much on (the issue of) men or women, I think it's the best person for the job.

"To have our first female governor-general is going to be a wonderful thing for the country."

When asked about the sensitive issue of a republic, Major General Jeffery said change could be a good thing, but stopped short of commenting specifically.

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see toon and bog at top...

From Michael Duffy

What is to be done about the biggest problem that emerged in 2008? I refer, of course, to the rise in global food prices, up 83 per cent since 2005. For the many poor people who spend a large proportion of their meagre incomes on food, this is a disaster. But as we shall see, it's a disaster the West could do a lot to solve quite easily. If only we can overcome a few modern superstitions.

According to Foreign Affairs magazine, there have been food riots in 30 countries. In Haiti they have brought down the prime minister. "For some consumers in the world's poorest countries," the researcher Paul Collier says, "the true anguish of high food prices is only just the beginning. If global food prices remain high, the consequences will be grim both ethically and politically."

-------------------------
Gus; Michael Duffy starts on the right foot but soon alarms bells ring in his analysis.

The food shortages were mainly brought out by two major factors: the major rice shortage due to drought in Australia and second the advent of biofuel. Add on top of these factors a growing population and the problem becomes chronic.

The solutions espoused by Duffy smell of mega-multi-national propaganda without proper study of the consequences of their profitable venture. I had a Freudian slip here and nearly wrote vulture instead of venture.
-----------
Duffy continues
According to Collier, this means confronting several major Western prejudices. The first is the widespread affection for peasant agriculture. Collier says the West needs to support the commercialisation of agriculture in Africa, through research and by encouraging African governments to make the necessary changes to property law to allow the amalgamation of what are at the moment relatively unproductive small farms.

The next prejudice is Europe's ban on genetically modified crops, which unfortunately has been copied by most African nations in order to maintain their access to European markets. Collier calls the anti-GM movement "romantic populism", a result of agricultural protectionism, anti-Americanism, and the "paranoia of health conscious consumers". Its effects on agricultural productivity have been grievous.

The final piece of Western thinking keeping up food prices is America's fantasy of escaping dependence on Arab oil by making ethanol, mainly from corn. "There is a good case for growing fuel," Collier believes. "But there is not a good case for generating it from American grain: the conversion of grain into ethanol uses almost as much energy as it produces."
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Sure, the problems are complex. But to me using Genetically Modified crops AND using commercialised agriculture can only compound the problems.

Peasant (mostly traditionally organically grown) agriculture in Africa can provide more than adequately the need of Africa for food. Elements missing in Duffy/Collier's equation are the major displacement of population and the huge environmental costs.

On the displacement of population alone, using "commercialised" farming techniques would reduce the number of employed people on the land, raising unemployment, unemployed moving to city, creating more urban poor than sustained country-folks across the board — in the long run creating a larger problem than ever before, inevitably increasing crime. Furthermore the "industrialisation" of agriculture would also destroy the cultural life — a cultural life that we Westerners may or may not understand but is very important for the societies who farm by the seasons...

Not only that, the food structure in many "poor" countries is not based on wheat or corn or other mass produced crops, apart from rice that may be the most cultivated crop on earth. We know that intensive commercialised rice farming can have major problems — from the water shortage to crop failure in time of drought, such as in Australia.

What Collier calls "relatively unproductive small farms" are gems. They do not use super-phosphate, insecticide, herbicides — all products that become more and more used as "commercialisation' of farming is increased. As scientists decry the loss of wildlife, from birds and bees to frogs in Europe, the impact of wanton use of death products via industrialisation of farming is vastly negative.
-----------

"Commercial agriculture may be irredeemably unromantic," Collier says, "but if it fills the stomachs of the poor, then it should be encouraged."
------------

Smart "if"!!! Bollocks!

In the long run, we should encourage smaller farms to be effective provider for the locals, rather than the opposite. "Small is beautiful" is still the mantra underpinning our best hopes on all fronts, including independence. But of course multinationals want us to be dependent...

That there were riots in 30 countries is unfortunate. But one has to realise most of these 30 countries DID NOT produce enough of their own food and relied heavily on "commercialised" agriculture from other countries — while most of these 30 countries have enough skills, enough people and enough lands to produce their own supplies. One needs to know to that there are more than one hundred and fifty non aligned countries that were able to supply their own population, during the "food shortage". 

But countries like Haiti live under the sword of "cheap" food imports, possibly becoming lazy suppliers in this basic area of life. The shortage of rice worldwide was due to the Australian drought. And worldwide droughts are not going to go away, including those in Australia. Large "commercialisation" of crops have failed miserably in drought times. Well managed small farms with water retention device such as tanks or dams can be more effective and employ more people than a cropping machine. In "commercialisation" of agriculture, vast amounts of forests, or tree clumps would be destroyed, compounding the general problem of global warming, as well as displacing populations. There is also more value in eating more green plants, beans, lentils and root vegetables than excessive amount of carbohydrates like wheat, which the West is prone to — thus having to deal with related obesity.

The Multinationals want our business, fair enough, but in the end when we are at the mercy of their supplies, as food would be more and more under the Collier proposal, there would be a small step to have to pay a king's ransom on credit, while the multinational would "manage" our needs and wants to suit their profits — all without counting the other costs borne by the social structures or the environment.

War and security apparatus needed to maintain the implementation of such a structured plan would only further defeat the purpose of "feeding the poor". War is more devastating than food shortage and many wars are not waged for food but for erroneous beliefs and for "commercial" richness...

Increasing commercialisation of agriculture — including GM crops — in most country will only lead to a new larger kind of greater poor. When food is abundant on "commercial" farms in Australia, plagues of mice or locusts often devastate the crops or the stored grains, then the mice and the locust die out from starvation. Another boom and bust cycle awaiting humanity under the idea of "industrialisation" of agriculture... demanding more and more controls to stem the new problems

Modern superstitions? No. Our inflated economies that have just crashed should give us the true perspective on this subject of food supply...

Small scale is beautiful.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce's family connection to prominent Labor MP Bill Shorten could become an ethical dilemma.

Ms Bryce's daughter Chloe married Mr Shorten in November 2009 and they have a daughter Clementine.

The parliamentary secretary was one of the key factional powerbrokers instrumental in the dumping of former prime minister Kevin Rudd for Julia Gillard in June.

He has been pegged as having aspirations for the top job himself, with one betting agency making him favourite to lead Labor to the next election.

------------------------------

Gus: no, there is no ethical dilemma in Quentin Bryce's mind. Knowing her, one should realise she is above the pettiness of politics and above these grubby dung-beetle allusions... She is a professional leader of men and women. She knows her toasts. Whether or not her daughter is married to thimbim or thambam is irrelevant to her duty... I am sure of that. Why bring this crap up?

Bill Shorten has already illustrated that he is not frightened of wielding his ALP position of power ,i e. Kevin Rudd being removed as the Prime Minister of Australia. They don't get any bigger than that as far as toppling goes . Irrespective of commentators thoughts and words as to his reason to do so , it came as a shock to the Nation that it occurred . With Labor being so close to the end of their 1st. term in Government it really set the warning bells clammering . The warning bells were replaced by alarm bells . The ship had struck a reef and was listing badly .The Deputy Leader was expected to right the ship and continue the Party to its destination . Despite the fact that only 3 years prior the Party had convinced the swingers to come aboard and enjoy the ride . The didn't stay on board and eventually jumped ship in the final weeks of the trip . Now they are trying to sort out whose luggage is whose , and are going to offer a free ride to 3 or 4 non Party members . Bill Shorten may not be the man to try and entice experienced travellers . But that alone will not deter him and his ambitions .

G'day Graham,

My first comment is, given that this Murdoch/ABC election has been temporarily anchored in "No man's bay", whose idea was it to bring up a subject that has no connection whatsoever to the dilemma facing the Australian people versus the Corporation's Liberal Party at this time?

Had this outrageous statement been made prior to the election being declared I dare say that even the arrogant Murdoch mob would have taken another think?

So now, after a close election and with the outcome still unpredictable, the subject of the removal of Kevin Rudd is raised quite pointlessly since all votes, even those from overseas, have passed their use by time?

What I am suggesting Graham is that, what purpose could an article have at this time which clearly predicts that “whatever happens in this election – (for one she richly deserves a victory) -Julia Gillard will be replaced and Bill Shorten will be her successor”? (What about Abbott?)

In the Murdoch/ABC method of “opinion” on everything without any proof whatsoever and then this comes from out of space.

Remember Graham that the almost sainted Robert Menzies took over the Australia United Party in 1939 when the PM died and he luckily won the 1940 election.  One year later, he was “stabbed in the back” “assassinated” “murdered” “castrated” and whatever other news selling adjective they could think of BUT ONLY IF that was in our present time.  In other words he was kicked out by his party who voted no confidence against his leadership and he was left to be in opposition for some nine years.

I have found it inspirational to think reason and use logic in anything that the mostly Murdoch media empire spruiks in our Australia that he thinks he owns.

Cheers Graham.  NE OUBLIE.

 

 

 

There are undercurrents and sarcastic comments made by the media that will stick forever: the "faceless men" etc.. for example...

In fact we all know who these "faceless men" are but they do not have the power to "do what they do —or did" — unless they have more than the numbers. NO-ONE could go and ask a Prime Minister for a party-spill unless they knew something major WAS WRONG (beyond a few lousy polls), not only with the public perception but within the workings of government. These so-called "faceless men" (this sobriquet annoys me no end) are there to maintain the ideology of an elected party against a tide of clever bullshit thrown at it by a rabid opposition.
Tony Abbott sunk the ETS, Tony Abbott opposed the clever rescue package of the Australian economy, Tony Abbott killed off good government programs including a reasonable revue of the mining tax. Tony Abbott presented himself as a white knight in shining armour protecting "interests" — while being the darkest of devilish disruptor of the Australian future with pseudo-policies attached to the wrong beliefs, including that of god ruling this insignificant planet. We can do better than that. With the help of a complicit darkish media, Tony was getting far more traction than reason ever called for. The problems with the insulation program was not "disastrous" — the program was far more successful than Tony and the media ever accepted (100 "fires" created by shonky workmanship, compared to 250,000 successfully insulated homes — some people have suggested that some of the problems were deliberately induced to damage the government) — yet the smell of disaster imprinted in the stupid mind of too many of us — me not included.

Kevin Rudd was not going anywhere against Tony. The darkest of polls (the secret ones) were starting to show on the horizon. Kevin's stars were not going to improve, only going downhill fast. Would Kevin go to the polls in another six months as he maintained in his desires, the shit in the stupid aussie psyche would have resulted into a catastrophic loss for the best options for this country... We would have ended up with more uneducated crap about climate change and other economic bullshit — in which the rich were going to rake more toils from making the poor struggle more. If this is what we wanted so be it, but let me out, please... We can and should do better than that.

Bill Shorten and the other "faceless men" (we know who they are) knew the risk of what they were doing to their party and to themselves. Bill Shorten is far truer to Australia's future than Tony is — or ever was — as the heir of Rattus the toad. Sure people can say it's an opinion, but I'm old enough, I have lived in many countries and lived through enough tough political times to know the value and heroics of what some people do. Bill Shorten damaged his career... He had to know this fact to make his choice, even with the backing of most of his fellow Labor people. He will wear the consequences of his action forever.

Julia knew time was short to contain the tide of bullshit from Abbott. Abbott is very clever but not intelligent. He can rally most of the interest groups by giving them the illusion of what they want, but he has no idea of the BIG picture. His demonising of the rescue package of the Australian economy — a package lauded by most (all) prominent economists around the world and similarly used by the Chinese government — was bilious to the extreme yet the media let him get away with it and supported that bilious attitude beyond crap...

We can do better than that. Julia is not perfect, but she sure has a better dedication to the future of Australia than Abbott ever had or would have. Look at his team of re-run soufflés... that we rejected before. Do we want to close our minds with the selfish me-me-me ideologies?

Bill Shorten damaged his career. he knew the price.

May be the media will wake up to the shit it dishes out... But I believe the media wont. The media lives on shit.

Hello Ernest , I declare that I am unaware of the "statement " you speak of. I do not read Murdock press , but I do watch the ABC . I was born into a family line of Labour voting kindred folk . At 73 years young I have not seen any sign of that changing . My family continue the linage , down to the latest one that has turned 18 .You state also " the Corporation's Liberal Party and if that is so , then we must refer to their opposition as the Unionist's Labor Party . Is that not so ? All of us voter's believe that, each and every one of us , we ALL use Reason and Logic to come to the conclusions that we do . That does not necessarily mean ones conclusions are more right , than the other one . What we each do is agree that the other one is wrong .That is the way we are . As regards the action taken by the men of power I agree that their reasoning was spot on , but the logic of the result was poorly constructed . Not thought through , and I did not have to wait for an Election to come to that thought . I feel sure Bill Shorten now realises that and it is in his memory bank for the rest of his life . I brook no argument with you and appreciate your thoughts . But , I form my own opinions , and I feel sure that just as Bob Hawke went from the Union heavyweight to Leader of the ALP then I opine that Bill Shorten will do the same. I finish for now with my opinion that Kevin Rudd is a dangerous liability for the ALP . It was he or Laurie Brerton that leeked . If Rudd is not made a front bencher should the ALP form Government then I would say stand by for a By Election in his Electorate in Qld. Ultimately this would bring about a full Election . The problem was created by Unionists , lets hope they can solve it with less damage than it caused. Cheers from the Left of me  , Graham.

Spot on Graham... Thanks for your fascinating enlightened comment.

Yes, we all use Reason and Logic in what we do, hopefully. Unfortunately/fortunately, we all come from different walks of life and even within ranks of similar coccoonic emergence, the wings of our leaders are tainted with BELIEFS that colour their views, their bitterness, their sweetness, their performance and their "leakage"... Same for all of us. Beliefs often underpin our reasons. As you may know by now "I (Gus) am a staunch godless existentialist-naturitus" but I do not begrudge others their creeds, unless these help the destruction of the planet... Often, it is hard to see the border between an improvement to our stylistical life and the "desacration" of nature — to use a religious word for this process...

I have met most of the characters mentioned below and one thing that has always fascinated me is the impact of religious dogma on their own slithering conflicting views of the world, mixed with a certain amount of righteous naked ambition, even within a Union movement. If one did not believe one could make a "difference", one would never become a politician or a leader, although sometimes these people start the career just by being included in a mob in which one starts to belongs... Views become powerfully similar for individual within the group, albeith with various hope formats: Catholic Right and Catholic Left. Anglican Right and Anglican Left. Etcetera.

Let's not forget the methodists who might have been the most screwed up of the hypocritical lot... Politics and religion don't mix? AhAh... It does in shaping the political format.

-------------

 

John Howard attends an Anglican church on occasion. He was raised as a Methodist.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_religion_of_John_Howard_former_Prime_Minster_of_Australia

 

 

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Rudd and his family attend the Anglican church of St John the Baptist in Bulimba in his electorate. Although raised a Roman Catholic, Rudd began attending Anglican services in the 1980s with his wife.[32] In December 2009, Rudd was spotted at a Catholic Mass to commemorate the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, in which he was administered with the Holy Communion. Rudd's actions provoked criticism and debate among both among political and religious circles.[178][179] A report by The Australian quoted that Rudd embraced Anglicanism but at the same time did not formally renounce his Catholic faith.[180]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Rudd
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Keating grew up in Bankstown, a working-class suburb of Sydney. He was one of four children of Matthew Keating, a boilermaker and trade-union representative of Irish-Catholic descent, and his wife, Minnie. In the 1960s Keating managed ‘The Ramrods’ rock band.[2] Keating was educated at Catholic schools; he was the first practising Catholic Labor prime minister since James Scullin left office in 1932. Leaving De La Salle College Bankstown (now LaSalle Catholic College) at 15, Keating worked as a clerk at the Electricity Commission of New South Wales and then as a research assistant for a trade union. He did not undertake any tertiary education. He joined the Labor Party as soon as he was eligible. In 1966, he became president of the ALP’s Youth Council.[3]

Keating was critical of the then opposition leader (and later prime minister) Kevin Rudd's leadership team. For example, before the 2007 federal election, which Labor won, he criticised the then opposition industrial relations spokesperson Julia Gillard, saying she lacked an understanding of principles such as enterprise-bargaining set under his government in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He also attacked Rudd's chief of staff David Epstein and Gary Gray, who was at that time a candidate for Kim Beazley's seat of Brand, to which he was elected in 2007.[42]

In February 2008, Keating joined former prime ministers Whitlam, Fraser and Hawke in Parliament House, Canberra, to witness the parliamentary apology to the Stolen Generations.[43]

In August 2008, he spoke at the book launch of "Unfinished Business: Paul Keating's Interrupted Revolution", authored by economist David Love. Among the topics discussed during the launch were the need to increase compulsory superannuation contributions, as well as to restore incentives (removed under Howard/Costello) for people to receive their superannuation payments in annuities.[44]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Keating

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The raw truth is that she has come to Labor politics in this country by accident - through falling for Ben Keneally, son of a staunchly Catholic family on Sydney's lower north shore, and the nephew of writer Thomas Keneally. They met in 1991 while both were waiting for Pope John Paul II to appear at a world youth conference in Poland. Ben commented on her ring - an opal her mother had bought during a recent trip back to Australia. ''You know 90 per cent of the world's opals are found in Australia?'' he said. ''I know'', she replied, ''my mother was born there.''

Kristina Kerscher (as she was then) followed Ben to Sydney in 1994. He took a job with Boston Consulting and they returned to the US, where they married in 1996. The couple lived in the US for another two years until eldest son Daniel was born and they returned to take up residence in Sydney. At this point, ALP insiders insist, it was Ben who had an eye on a political career, backed by his good mate from Young Labor days, Joe Tripodi. At the time it was in the mutual interests of Tripodi, Bob Carr and others to dump the then sitting Labor member in the local seat of Heffron, Deirdre Grusovin.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/labors-least-likely-20091204-kb2i.html

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As a former Catholic seminarian, Abbott's religiosity has come to national attention and journalists have often sought his views on the role of religion in politics. Abbott says that a politician should not rely on religion to justify a political point of view:

We are all influenced by a value system that we hold, but in the end, every decision that a politician makes is, or at least should, in our society be based on the normal sorts of considerations. It's got to be publicly justifiable; not only justifiable in accordance with a private view; a private belief.[73]

Abbott's positions on bioethics and family policy often broadly correlate with Catholic positions. However, various of the political positions supported by Abbott have been criticised by the Church, including aspects of industrial relations policy, asylum seeker and Aboriginal affairs policy.[93][94][95] After criticisms of Liberal Party policy by clergy, Abbott has said: "The priesthood gives someone the power to consecrate bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. It doesn't give someone the power to convert poor logic into good logic."[93]

According to John Warhurst from the Australian National University, academics have at times placed an "exaggerated concentration on the religious affiliation and personal religious background of just one of [the Howard government's] senior ministers, Tony Abbott."[96] Journalist Michelle Grattan wrote in 2010 that while Abbott has always "worn his Catholicism on his sleeve", he is "clearly frustrated by the obsession with [it] and what might hang off that".[97]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Abbott#Religion

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Since Pell's appointment as archbishop of Melbourne—and more particularly since his translation to Sydney—he has maintained a high public profile on a wide range of issues, while retaining a strict adherence to Catholic orthodoxy.[6] As his rapid promotion might indicate, he appeared to have the full confidence of John Paul II and his closest advisers such as the current Pope Benedict XVI (as Cardinal Ratzinger).[citation needed]

Pell worked with dignitaries of other churches in his efforts to strengthen the faith of Christians and their contribution to Australian life.[citation needed] This was a difficult task in Sydney, which had a long tradition of sectarian hostility.[citation needed] The Sydney diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia is predominantly Evangelical and historically anti-Roman Catholic, but Pell worked co-operatively with his Anglican counterpart, Dr Peter Jensen, on political issues while avoiding theological controversies.[citation needed] This was referred to in Sydney as "the ecumenism of the right"....

Pell aroused criticism from Senator Christine Milne of the Greens political party with the following comment in his 2006 Legatus Summit speech:

Some of the hysteric and extreme claims about global warming are also a symptom of pagan emptiness, of Western fear when confronted by the immense and basically uncontrollable forces of nature. Belief in a benign God who is master of the universe has a steadying psychological effect, although it is no guarantee of Utopia, no guarantee that the continuing climate and geographic changes will be benign. In the past pagans sacrificed animals and even humans in vain attempts to placate capricious and cruel gods. Today they demand a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.[12]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pell

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But if there were any doubts at all that his timing had as much to do with bloody revenge as it did with new blood for the party, that laugh - and the glee in his voice - should dispel them once and for all. "It has been an exquisitely executed act of vengeance," said a NSW minister this week.

Noted another well known Labor figure: "It's a triple hit ... revenge over Eric Roozendaal and Sussex Street who he blames for the end of his sister's career, revenge over the NSW Right as a whole because the faction loses one of its safest seats and let's face it, if Garrett does join a faction, it won't be the right now will it?"

Neville Wran, Brereton's mentor and former premier, would not comment directly on the week's events but he observed: "Laurie is not quick to forgive and he certainly does not forget. And if you want to fall out with him, make sure that you are organised before you do. Very well organised."

Others were not so polite.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/13/1087065029724.html

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Brereton was instrumental in revising Federal Labor policy to support self-determination and independence for East Timor. Brereton was a vocal critic of Prime Minister John Howard who supported East Timor's continued integration in Indonesia. He was also strongly critical of the performance of past Labor Governments, in particular Prime Minister Gough Whitlam who acquiesenced to Indonesia's intentions to invade East Timor in 1975.

During 1998 and 1999 Brereton highlighted evidence of the Indonesian military's involvement in pro-integrationist violence in East Timor and was a strident advocate of United Nations peacekeeping to support East Timor's independence ballot. Brereton was a member of the Australian Parliamentary observer mission that witnessed the conduct of the ballot.

Brereton's break from previous Australian bipartisanship on East Timor policy was an important factor in the Howard Government's eventual decision to change Australian policy and intervene in East Timor in September 1999. According to historian and former Australian Army officer, Dr Clinton Fernandes, "The ALP's change of policy – and the resulting pressure of the [Australian] Government – was a critical factor in the independence of East Timor."[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurie_Brereton

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Grusovin was born Deirdre Mary Brereton in Sydney, and is the sister of influential former politician Laurie Brereton.

Initially elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1978, she remained in office until 1990. During this time she was Minister for Consumer Affairs and Assistant Minister for Health 1986-88 and Minister for Small Business 1987-88. In 1990 she ran in a by-election in Heffron, winning a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She was re-elected in 1991, 1995 and 1999.[1]

Grusovin resigned in 2003, followed defeat in a bitter preselection battle with Kristina Keneally in 2002. Grusovin threatened to take her case to the Supreme Court, but ultimately stepped aside and Keneally succeeded her in 2003.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deirdre_Grusovin

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Keneally was born Kristina Marie Kerscher in Las Vegas to an American father and an Australian-born mother. She lived briefly in Colorado but grew up in Toledo, Ohio,[9] where she attended high school at Notre Dame Academy.[10] While at Notre Dame she was twice awarded most valuable player (1985, 1986) in the Academy's soccer team.[11]

Upon graduating from Notre Dame, she undertook studies at the University of Dayton, also in Ohio. While there she became involved in student politics,[12] and was involved in founding the National Association of Students at Catholic Colleges and Universities, serving as president of the group in 1990 and 1991.[13][14] She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1991[12][15][16], was a registered Democrat[17] and worked as an intern for the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, Paul Leonard.[12] In 1995 she graduated with a Master of Arts in religious studies. She later studied at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Dayton she worked for a year as a volunteer teacher in New Mexico.[15][16]



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristina_Keneally

 

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A SMEAR campaign over Barry O'Farrell's first marriage has been blamed on "destructive religious extremists" within the NSW Liberal Party.

A member of the party's state executive has accused the so-called religious right faction of trying to destroy the Opposition's stability by "getting personal" to wield its influence.

"This is gutter politics at its worst," the source told The Daily Telegraph. "These people are not interested in winning Government but remain obsessed with fulfilling their personal agendas."

The same "radical element" was also targeting senior party officials as part of a vendetta-driven campaign, the source said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/ofarrell-a-subject-of-smear/story-e6freuzi-1225838459291

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Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she has no intention of pretending to believe in God to attract religiously-inclined voters.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd was a regular at Canberra church services and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is known as a devout Catholic.

In contrast, Ms Gillard says that while she greatly respects other people's religious views, she does not believe in God.

Ms Gillard has been quizzed on personal topics including her attitude to religion and her relationship with her partner during interviews this morning.

She says does not go through religious rituals for the sake of appearance.

"I am not going to pretend a faith I don't feel," she said.

"I am what I am and people will judge that.

"For people of faith, I think the greatest compliment I could pay to them is to respect their genuinely held beliefs and not to engage in some pretence about mine."

"I grew up in the Christian church, a Christian background. I won prizes for catechism, for being able to remember Bible verses. I am steeped in that tradition, but I've made decisions in my adult life about my own views.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:I7R6KsoMiMIJ:www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/29/2939879.htm+julia+gillard+religion&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au

G'day Graham,

I don't think that you and I are far apart in our opinions on the parlous state of contemporary politics in Australia, especially at the Federal level.

I note that you are 73 years of age and I am 80.  Then it is no wonder that our views and beliefs are so similar since we both went through some pretty rough periods of war with foreign interests being invited to "invest" [read purchase] in our public assets.  But, as you and your family would know, we didn't have much option since WW II had financially and infrastructurally  broken every involved nation with the exception of the US?

Your opinion that, logically... " the Corporation's Liberal Party and if that is so , then we must refer to their opposition as the Unionist's Labor Party . Is that not so ?"  Of course you are right Graham, and Menzies’ have been using that analogy of "Union thugs" running the Labor Party since “Pig Iron Bob” formed the Liberal Party. 

Other little tit bits were..."Anything Red is Communist" - "Reds under the beds" - using the words "our people" was also Communist even as his media fear campaign included anything "social". Or even like the very much ANTI communist Germans using "Comeraden" was to "Ming the Merciless" and his media (just like now) an expression of Communism.  And yet, the hidden hate by Menzies was that all of those "free expressions" were fodder to feed the hatred between our classes of people he created so well.  His objective was to use fear to divide our people and the remnants of that policy - because it was so successful – it is still used primarily by the Corporation's Liberal Party to this day.

Just as an aside Graham, did you know that Australian pensioners did not receive one increase during the regimes of Menzies and McMahon"? Yet, after those 23 years drought, the Whitlam Labor government in its first years, raised the pension.  And he was targeted for it by the Packer media. 

So, taking a deep breath, I am of the genuine opinion that people like Menzies - McMahon - Fraser and Howard were in reality Corporation's governments, controlled by the foreign Media Corporations and for the big business interests that have raised our foreign debt (our debt to other countries) from $190 billion when Howard was elected in 1996 to some $650 billion in 2007. 

If a Labor government had done that Graham, you know what outrageous claims would have been made.

In short, since the Keating Government's policy of no "Cross Media Ownership" was immediately lost with Howard's election - we now have a Murdoch monopolistic media empire functioning in this once democracy of ours.  And here is the rub.

IF we cannot believe what we read in the newspapers - hear on the radio - read on the net - watch Sky TV  et al. Where can we obtain news based on facts and not the political opinions of the hierarchy?

Rupert Murdoch’s  Australian Empire covers all – yes all methods of our citizens “receiving” information and if, anyone cares to take a good look at the rise and fall of Kevin Rudd they will – notice that Murdoch had built him up and, when Rudd decided that the National Broadband Network was to remain in Australian public hands – suddenly Kevin Rudd was the real “Tony Abbott” and vice versa.

No matter how much you and I agree Graham, the garbage that Murdoch has fed to our people in a most vicious and unprovoked way is as big - if not bigger - given the economic stupidity of Abbott and his hatred of the Treasury and Finance departments, as the Packer crime of the Whitlam DISMISSAL.

Fair weather Graham and may we communicate again.  NE OUBLIE.

 

 

I appreciate your response Ernest , and can see that you had an early start in the interests of Political events . Especially your recall of the times of Pig Iron Bob and the great Ben Chifley era. My knowledge of those times are gained from Library books . I do find the Doco's and TV series of the events from those days do not give me a satisfactory insight into what I have in my mind as the actual portrayal of how things really eventuated . But one must remember the licence that Producer's take to sell their product . As to regarding the broadcasting and distribution of TV and Radio news , and the printed word in Newspaper's , it is hard for one to sort the wheat from the chaff . I do like what people on Your Democracy give of their minds . I believe that when one is putting their thoughts into the written word they are more likely to state the truth . To state an untruth in written form can be held against them , and when proven wrong , can cause some losing of face . But , for the likes of Howard et el. and his Party of Lier's , (WMD , AWB , Children overboard etc) it does not bother them . They have many faces .

Contemporary politics in this wonderful Country , though it may be parlous , as you say , at Federal level , gives one enough fuel to burn without causing any damage to the Climate . I am patiently waiting on the result of the Election , as are the rest of the Nation . I will accept if one has to , working with a hung Parliament , but I do not favour it . How can we be considered to be under a Democracy , when the decisions are left to 3 or 4 people whom cannot find a Party that will have them .The Mad Hatter is not even interested in anything that is South of FNQ .

Good to be acquainted with you Ernest , Graham.

THE DECISION to invest Sachin Tendulkar with an honorary Order of Australia was right, in spite  of the egregious Alan Jones hissing away that it should never been made ― Jones is sounding more like his bosom buddy, David Flint, every day.

But I do wish before the mainstream media would get the story right and do some homework.

I hate to sound pedantic, but here goes anyway.

First the decision to make the award was not Julia Gillard’s; it might have been her idea, but she would have had to run it past Governor-General Quentin Bryce who, on behalf of her boss in faraway London, would have had to have agreed. Of course, in reality, that wasn’t  a problem. Her Excellency knows the form and so does the Prime Minister. Tendulkar will be invested, I would think, by our High Commissioner in New Delhi who, after all in reality, is appointed by Ms Bryce.

So having got that one out of the way, some thoughts about the Order  of Australia, which thankfully replaced the redundant and anachronistic Imperial Honours system of Britain’s. A system that has been trotted out, incorrectly in my view, on at least two occasions. One, when David Smith was knighted for being the Official Secretary to Governors-General for more years than anyone could remember and just doing what he was being paid to do handsomely.

Then there was the outrageous top of the tree Order of Merit Elizabeth II personally awarded to John Howard, presumably  for his fixing of the Referendum which the Republicans lost all those years ago. If ever he is tried for the crime of destroying Iraq on the orders of George Bush the Lesser and the giggling two-faced Tony Blair, it’s to be hoped the Order will be negated.

http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/australian-identity/republic/getting-the-order-right-for-tendulkar/

The merde-och press is running a campaign inviting the GG, Quentin Bryce to install Rudd as a "caretaker" PM... What a lot of indecent idiotic rubbish... The idea from this MSM (main stream media) is despicable. Should Mrs Bryce indulge in this crap, the history books won't be very kind to her...

There is NO CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. NONE! Why would she indulge in this worst kind of intervention?... Ah I see... Because the merde-och press said so and cannot wait another couple of months, when the official election is to be run... The shit-press has an agenda and wants to claim a scalp...

I believe Quentin Bryce to be far far more intelligent than to indulge in this crap.

Gus.

 

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