Money's a funny thing... or is it?

I think many, if not most, of us are suspicious of banks and other financial institutions.  If we're not, in my view, we definitely should be.  Certainly those involved in all the "Occupy..." movements are not just suspicious; they know the top 1% (or whatever percentage it turns out to be) are crooks and evil to boot.  I make no secret of my own feelings on this, having preached that the world is run by 6 or 8 people my whole life - which is an allegory for the very small number of people with real and total power, to whom the rest of us are virtually lower forms of life to be manipulated with carrots and sticks.  So, no, money isn't funny, nor is it what we think it is.  Like shares, it is illusory.  For the real powers that be, the trick is to have many people having at least enough to survive so they won't be on the bottom and will always be able to aspire to upward mobility, no matter how likely or unlikely that might be.  Those on the bottom will be so busy surviving they won't be able to do much to change things.  If revolution happens it will usually be replacing one dictator with another and going nowhere near my '6 at the top'.  For an interesting view, have a look at this article in The Guardian: The truth is out: money is just an IOU, and the banks are rolling in it

Happy St Patrick's Day

I have to declare my complete indifference to St Patrick the person - not even sure how real he was, especially his rep for ridding Ireland of snakes, considering how many seem to remain to this day - however I am a great fan of celebrating St Patrick's Day, the day he died, which I think of as Ireland Day.

When I was a young Catholic girl, attending a Catholic school in a poor neighbourhood in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, St Pat's was a big deal.  There was preparation and rehearsal to march in the parade in the city.  In those days (way back in the fifties) poor kids didn't get into the city routinely.  Nor did many qualify for being in the marching group for our school group.  The nuns who taught us were "Sacred Heart" and they were used to finer things, so many had a tendency to be snobs.  The kids whose parents could afford new uniforms every year, blazers, berets, etc., and who contributed to the school funds, were the most likely to be chosen.  To be fair, marching in step wasn't really my 'thing' and I was inclined to deliberately double step and try to get others out of step too but I sure wasn't the only little devil who mucked about.  St Patrick's day was much more fun watching from the sidelines.

My real interest in St Pat's Day came when I became more political and realised the pride of having Irish ancestors on one side and French on the other, so I have been able to boast that I come from long lines of revolutionaries on both sides.  I named my son Erin after the Isle of Ireland so we always remember justice is always worth fighting for.

Happy St Patrick's Day....  Justice for Ireland!

Leave Tasmanian Forests Alone!

The Abbott led coalition government appears to have a slash & burn attitude to Tasmanian forests.  This state, with vast areas still in pristine condition despite generations of effort at destruction, seems to be a challenge to conservative thinkers and actors.  They seemingly cannot bear that there is land not ploughed, mined, logged or otherwise exploited for profit.  Mind you, non-monetary profit doesn't count, nor does profit from gentle tourism.  Government ownership (i.e., ownership by the people) is abhorrent when there are big-business profiteers being deprived of opportunity, especially attractive is overseas or global businesses profiting from our resources.  It hardly makes any sense but then, I've never found sense in a lot of conservative thinking. A very good article: Why Does The Coalition Want To 'Unlock' The Forests?

HAPPY LABOUR DAY VICTORIA & TASMANIA.

I know there are lots of people who have never been able to join a union because they live in countries where they don't exist, however, people do join unions in countries where they can be arrested, tortured and even killed - not to mention 'disappeared' so their families lose even the certainty of their death and a body.  Why would these people take these risks?  They take them to achieve even a small portion of what we take for granted in Australia.  Not only should we be celebrating what we've achieved through unionism (and joining if we haven't) we should be prepared to hold our ground against the regular attacks on our hard won rights; we should also be fully prepared to get at least our words of support, petitions and any means we're able behind the countries where they fight to have unions.

Follow the link to get some idea of what unionism can be blamed for:  

Working Life - On Labour Day, an apology of sorts

Happy International Women's Day

International Women's Day brings back memories of marching through Melbourne's streets, singing, chanting, encouraging by-standers to join in and sharing the joy of action with each other, including my sister and our brothers.  It was genuinely wonderful and I wish I could do it still, however, there are many younger and fitter able to take the place of those who can't do the physical protesting any more.

Sexism in different forms and at different levels is obviously flourishing in Australia.  We have had ample proof of this in all arenas from political through social to political over the past 12 months, previous to that and, unfortunately, we anticipate continuation.

Even if we achieve total success at home, the world offers such challengers for women that we won't be resting in my lifetime, nor in that of my son I fear.  That is another reason why it is so important to focus on ALL women, not just ourselves.  While standing up at home, we must remember to stand up for women across the globe.

https://unwomen.org.au/about-us/un-women
http://www.dvrcv.org.au/support-services/national-services
http://www.african-women.org/about.php
http://www.cawinfo.org/

Heaps of sites around to inform oneself of the situations faced by women around the world.

Why do "Most Australians think Schapelle Corby guilty."?

 According to the Sydney Morning Herald:  Most Australians think Schapell Corby guilty

There has been NO case proven against Schapelle Corby and she did not receive a fair trial.  These are indisputable facts in my view and the view of many experts.  Whether one likes her or not (although, again, how one could know her well enough to like or dislike her with only media sensationalism to go by, I don't know) has nothing to do with whether she is guilty.  It is a prosecution's task to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in our system and I assume in Indonesia as well.  This was clearly not done, hence she is innocent.  If she was guilty it would be a sign of mental deficiency because there is no point or profit in smuggling marijuana INTO Bali!!!!

Did people learn nothing from the Chamberlain case?  At least read some non-mainstream reporting  before deciding someone's guilty.


For example, the series by Gerry Georgatos (WLP)

"Optic Nerve" surveillence program spying on ordinary people: DemocracyNow Report

"The latest top-secret documents leaked by Edward Snowden reveal the National Security Agency and its British counterpart, the the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) may have peered into the lives of millions of Internet users who were not suspected of wrongdoing. The surveillance program codenamed "Optic Nerve" compiled still images of Yahoo webcam chats in bulk and stored them in the GCHQ’s databases with help from the NSA. In one six-month period in 2008 alone, the agency reportedly amassed webcam images from more than 1.8 million Yahoo user accounts worldwide. According to the documents, between 3 and 11 percent of the Yahoo webcam images contained what the GCHQ called "undesirable nudity." The program was reportedly also used for experiments in "automated facial recognition" as well as to monitor terrorism suspects. We speak with James Ball, one of the reporters who broke the story. He is the special projects editor for Guardian US."

"Operational Security Is a Charade" (NewMatilda)

 Whatever makes people think we don't have right-wing fascist thinkers (and actors) in the military? There's no surprise in Campbell's behaviour; he is destined for greater things obviously. Interesting read:

'Operational Security' Is A Charade | newmatilda.com

minimum wage - ACTU Australian Unions

"Australian Unions fought for the minimum wage when it was established
more than a century ago and today 1.5 million workers rely on the annual
wage case run by unions."

minimum wage - ACTU Australian Unions

Killing renewables softly with endless reviews

The ridiculous ongoing drama attacking renewables and the targets to reduce 'old technologies' effects on our planet and climate, is so patently about preserving market share for oil and coal companies that it's hard to imagine anybody can actually be fooled by it.  

Nevertheless, the battle rages with the profiteers making the most noise and government capitulating to their demands, thus we have the government making the arguments on behalf of the polluters while also subsidising their life-threatening, planet-destroying greed.  The article link refers to yet another process with this same aim.

WTP (we the people) need to unite and seriously challenge the corrupt PTB (powers that be) to show them that we will not accept politicians who are in the pockets of big business.

Petition | Free the 23 workers locked up for peacefully protesting. Drop the charges & raise the minimum wage. | Change.org

Petition | Free the 23 workers locked up for peacefully protesting. Drop the charges & raise the minimum wage. | Change.org

Workers around the world are protesting Cambodian embassies on Monday
10 February to demand the release of 23 activists seized during
demonstrations in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in January.


The detainees, which include trade union activists and garment
workers, were incarcerated after peaceful rallies on 2 and 3 of January
were met with brutal force by Cambodian police, which opened fire on
demonstrators leaving four people dead and 39 injured.

Labor accused of besmirching navy honour over call for burns inquiry

 The Abbott government would be tedious and ridiculous, if it weren't so dangerous, in its 'anti-Australia' and anti 'our brave servicepeople' attack on anyone who wants to know the truth of what's happening in our name.



Labor accused of besmirching navy honour over call for burns inquiry

The Global Intelligence Files - List of Releases

The Global Intelligence Files - List of Releases



This site is worth a serious look, e.g.,:



"The material shows how a private intelligence agency works, and how they
target individuals for their corporate and government clients.
For example, Stratfor monitored and analysed the online activities of
Bhopal activists, including the "Yes Men", for the US chemical giant
Dow Chemical. The activists seek redress for the 1984 Dow Chemical/Union
Carbide gas disaster in Bhopal, India. The disaster led to thousands of
deaths, injuries in more than half a million people, and lasting
environmental damage."

Schapelle Corby is innocent – part 9 – the abominable silence. By Gerry Georgatos | The WikiLeaks Party

Schapelle Corby is innocent – part 9 – the abominable silence. By Gerry Georgatos | The WikiLeaks Party

Second release of secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement documents

Second release of secret Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement documents

Another move for corporations and their stooges to run the world and overrule Governments & individual rights.  This is a very important issue and is being largely ignored by the mainstream media.  We will regret it if we do not inform ourselves and make our voices heard.

Happy New Year

New Year's Eve - a time for looking back and forward.  I love occasions, as those who know me know about me.  When I was young, I thought that meant going out and partying like there was no tomorrow and I do look back on those times very fondly.  Now, however, I don't need that partying to 'make' the occasion.  The occasion makes itself.  It has its own significance, more so with each passing year.  One of the incredible unsought, unexpected gifts of time passing.

Another of these gifts is the falling away of the irrelevant, the petty, the self-interested, the narrow and shallow to allow the wonder of the love you receive, the generosity of others, the courage shown by human beings - the species you'd almost written off as hopeless - to shine through.

My whole life changed in 2013.  Nothing went on as I'd expected.  From running like a mad thing for the past 25 years, I suddenly had little to concentrate on but myself.  People may think they think a lot about themselves but, if you're like me, you suddenly find that was totally superficial.  Now it was 'the real thing'.

From being the one on whom everyone could depend I became dependent; from being the physically strong one I became kitten weak; from having my well-worn path to follow I was off the track (and everyone knows I'm geographically challenged).

Thank you to the family who continue to give love and inspire it in me, who give kindness and inspire it in me and are there for me.  May we always be there for each other.

Thank you to the friends who have shared with me, cared about me, trusted me and shown me love and kindness.  Without you both life and 2013 would have been much bleaker instead of the joyous experience it has been.

Thank you to the world of heroes who have allowed me to exercise my conscience in our mutual pursuit of a just and safe world for all people, creatures and Gaia.

Happy 2014 to all.

Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism 'tyranny' and urges rich to share wealth | World news | theguardian.com

 This is the first time EVER that I have considered the words of a Pope to be worth listening to.  People in this position of enormous power have, in my view, misused that power to keep the disadvantaged in their place while supporting the rich and powerful, even disciplining those priests who supported those who rose up against murderous dictators.  Francis is making different 'noises' and I'm starting to listen.  Several things occur to me, principally (of course) that he may not survive as he seeks to reform the Vatican's financial holdings (e.g., bank).  I'll be interested in any progress but criticism of capitalism is good!

Pope Francis calls unfettered capitalism 'tyranny' and urges rich to share wealth | World news | theguardian.com

Amani Duniani: Difficult circumstances or not PM, torture is never acceptable

 There's no need for me to add any words to this when Francis Ventura has said it so well in his blog:
"When recently questioned by journalists in Colombo about allegations of torture in Sri Lanka, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott initially said that his government deplores the use of torture. Fair enough. But he then went on to say, and I quote, “but we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances, difficult things happen.” I had to listen to it again twice to ensure I’d heard it correctly. Had the Prime Minister seriously just implicitly defended the use of torture by the Sri Lankan government, which he sees as a strategic partner in his efforts to ‘stop the boats’?"

Read the whole article!

Amani Duniani: Difficult circumstances or not PM, torture is never acceptable

“Responsibility to Protect” (R2P): An Instrument of Aggression

Provocative article and well worth a thoughtful read.  The author is Edward S Herman who, in addition to considerable work of his own, also wrote a couple of books with Noam Chomsky.

“Responsibility to Protect” (R2P): An Instrument of Aggression

U.N. Defends Banning Three Youth Activists While Allowing Fossil Fuel Firms to Sponsor Climate Talks | Democracy Now!

 Ban Ki-moon needs to answer a straight question with a true answer (e.g., we're all in the power of these multi-nationals so without huge world-wide protest from people to empower - force - their governments to support the cause, we can't do much).

U.N. Defends Banning Three Youth Activists While Allowing Fossil Fuel Firms to Sponsor Climate Talks | Democracy Now!