Australia is a Fascist Country

It would appear, that within the last 3 years, Australia has developed into some sort of fascist state - or at least it would be if there weren't so many intelligent people who vigilantly keep the government at bay.

A few weeks ago I was at a party where the conversation drifted, as it far too often does, into the sphere of politics. I have come to dread this situation. I tend to enter into debates and realise my folly very quickly, before I can stop the barrage of passionate opinion. This was particularly true of the occasion in question, my company was a collection of conservative types, who lean a lot farther right than my personal inclinations. (I'm not discriminatory, it's just not what I advocate). I left this conversation shocked at the opinions espoused by a friend (read: ' there was no reason for Australia to apologise to the Aboriginal people') but also with a remarkable sense that our government must have fascist tendencies.

The friend in question was very averse to the idea of the government censoring our Internet. I personally don't find issue with it as I access neither terrorist websites nor child pornography and my browsing will not be affected. My friend however, seemed to believe that the government should not be given the power to censor what we can access, as once such ability is given they will surely start to block other material they don't wish us to see. This friend went on to point out that this was exactly how the 'Nazi's' got into power - by gradually getting permission to control Germany.

It was at this point in the conversation that my jaw clamped shut and I think my brain began to shut down.

I happen to be studying pre-WWII Germany at present and so the lecturing almost made me laugh. (I must write another post about how irritating I find it that everyone references the Nazi regime). Also seeing as this friend is scathing of the left wing aspects of our current government, (or rather, their lack of conservatism) I would actually suggest that a socialist metaphor is more appropriate - say...Stalinist Russia. But again, I knew I was severely outnumbered and also realised such a comment may need ten minutes of explaining, so I wisely refrained.


Having pondered this for several weeks I am still amazed at this friend's claims. What they indicated was an essential lack of trust in out democratic system. I know of many who think very similarly, which is a great cause for concern. I'm a big supporter of active, informed debate, but this hypocrisy is more than a little ridiculous.
They use their democratic right to free speech to vocalise anti-government or oppositional sentiments, which in actuality is being particularly encouraged at this time due to our hung parliament. Their lack of faith in the democratic system and it's role in ensuring that our government does not impinge the right of freedom of information is completely undercut by their reliance of this same system to have the freedom to express it.

I learned a valuable lesson from all this. When this friend additionally tried to make me understand that Australia had not been in any danger from the GFC - that had the government not been stupid and spent so much money we would not have been affected at all. I just shook my head.
Really, what I learned was that I just shouldn't get into these kind of discussions. I would have a lot more faith in my own generation if I just ignored the need for political discourse.
Alas.

I hope that one day, Australian people are going to wake up and realise just how lucky they are to live in a country like ours.

Realisations of Pakistan

It is revelations such as this that remind me that all we hear is not truth and that we cannot know the total reality of what is happening. When we are not privy to a situation or fact we have to rely on others to inform us of what happened, what went on and what it all meant. When learning of international affairs this is especially true - we rely on the media to give us the whole picture. Predictably this is where issues start.

On the 30/7/10 I received an email from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) - I happen to be signed up to their online mailing list. It basically read:

Recent heavy rainfall in Pakistan's north-western region has caused the most severe flooding the country has seen in over 80 years, destroying buildings and infrastructure. More than three million people have been affected and over 1,400 people are confirmed dead....our teams who were already in the country were able to respond rapidly to the floods. This included expanding our response to a cholera outbreak which had begun some weeks earlier. Within days of the first floods, we set up three additional temporary cholera treatment centres in Swat, Lower Dir and Dargai districts.

This was the first I had heard of the flooding disaster, it wasn't for another 24 hours that I saw this reported on the news - this gap I find somewhat disturbing. However, I do know that the flood was known about within the media, I just hadn't come across it on televised news or in my smh feed - but this isn't the point.
I was more so disturbed that after having being first informed of the disaster by MSF - having been provided an image of their flood relief efforts.



That the news the next night was proclaiming that there was no assistance for the victims occurring save for the assistance of the US army. This felt to me like a large misrepresentation.


Later, the MSF photo of the day blog featured two Pakistani children carrying water with the explanation:

In addition to the expansion of its medical activities, MSF’s priority is to provide clean water and improve hygienic conditions in order to prevent the spread of acute respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, and skin infections. MSF teams are getting ready in case of a waterborne disease outbreak, such as cholera, however the situation is under control at this point.

A larger article at the website contained the same as well as the following:

Official figures now refer to more than three million people having been directly affected by the floods, and more than 1,500 confirmed deaths. More rains are expected in the coming days and could cause renewed flooding and create problems in areas that have been unaffected until now. But some areas that were initially affected are becoming more accessible thanks to the water levels receding.

Upon reading this I was automatically struck by the great difference between the reinforced need within the article to ensure the availability of clean drinking water and that of the televised news which stated lack of food was the greatest issue. I do not propose that either is wrong - but the difference between the accounts is mildly alarming. This SMH article claims that:

At least 1600 people have been killed, but there are warnings the final toll could rise well above 2000. At the weekend about 30 bodies were reportedly recovered following landslides in two flood-hit villages in the north, while 25 more people were believed missing.

About 15 million people have been directly affected by the floods, but the consequences are being felt across the country as food prices rise. There are reports the cost of basics like onions, potatoes and tomatoes has quadrupled following the inundation of huge tracts of prime farming land.

This opposes the claim on MSF of "more than three million people having been directly affected by the floods". This leaves any person guessing about the real situation in Pakistan. The difference may be due to the time elapsed between 5/8 when the MSF notification was published and the SMH article which is from 10/8. However, the organisation Oxfam reads that: "according to the UN over 4 million people have been affected."

If the media is intent on painting this issue as such a major crisis - I would like a greater clarity of factual information. I admit I am more sold by the MSF article which explains simply and logically the different regions within which they operate - something I have not seen in any other articles. Admittedly I have not searched very far because as much as I want to share this disparity of information, it has also caused me to reflect on how the average individual gains information on issues such as this.

Even well informed accounts with the intent to inform the international world cannot give us a total picture. This is just another example that reinforced this fact.

Considering all of this causes one to ponder what we don't know, and what the importance of all that is. It is considered the mark of a good democratic society that we are aware of national and international issues; 'good' in relation to our own country as well as the country of the subject. Engaging with the issues also allows other nations to provide assistance to ailing countries. I myself believe that it is important to be aware of global issues, they give perspective - a reminder of the great size of the world in which we are only a tiny part.
But it is the disparities such as this and the continual unearthing of unreported years-old disasters that call in to question whether what we are told is truthful and what other disasters are left untold in the wake of such concentration on single issues.
Reports come into Australia of a bombing in Afghanistan - 1 Australian killed and several others injured. What about the others? I may be Australian, but that does not mean I only want to hear about our soldiers. I have friends serving overseas, I have some reason to be concerned. But I am also concerned about my awareness of how many other hundreds of local people have been killed - not just our Western forces. The world is greater than that.

I could go on, but this last point in particular will not doubt be the subject of a post in the near future.
This has been a little bit of a ramble - I have spent time writing overly conscious of the fact that I should be studying. So excuse the lack of structure or proper thesis.


-Emily

Beginnings

Several times have I tried to blog. An insatiable need occasionally arises within me to voice my concern/opinions/frustrations etc. about the world apparent. Done, the need to continue disappears and other concerns retake their precedence.

Again this need strikes me, and so I know how this will most inevitably end. However, I have found new inspiration for this drabbling of thoughts that could possibly cause a continuation of my web presence as such.
The intent of this blog is to flesh out my ideas and concepts of the world through synthesising all my ideas into a semi-coherent page. I hope I will be able to combine my own observations of the world with those of others as well as social, cultural, political and religious discourses. To some extent I know that I will aim to inform -I know that in this respect I will merely satisfy my own desire to have my voice heard.

This is perhaps not the greatest time I could have chosen to restart blogging. The next 2 and a half months consist of a strict regimen of study and exams that will largely prevent me from writing. But due to self imposed restrictions on my digital and otherwise social life - this will more or less be my outlet.
So for any sorry sole who may choose to take interest in my journey of self determination and realisation, expect absences - I will get my mother to write me a notice of explanation if you so wish.


Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this - here's to beginnings.

-Emily