International Development/Modern Day Missionaries

Hello everyone,
as some of you know I call international development workers 'Modern Day Missionaries.' Some are going to 'developing' countries and 'helping' people. Apparently, there is only poverty 'over there.' Anyway, some spread the word of Jesus and the oh so fun, Catholic Church (check out the link to this movie I just saw, Deliver Us From Evil). But others, the more sinister lot, believe they are doing good and are spreading the good word of capitalism.

As one international development student said, "If only we could go to Africa and get everyone a job." Yes, a perfect world is one half-full of fat-ass-over-consuming- westerners and the other half-full of people working in sweatshops. We can shop our way to a better world. If only everyone can consume more.... (screw the environment, etc).

Enough of that, you get the idea. But here is poem Lauren found:

The Development Set
Ross Coggins, September 1976

Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet
I'm off to join the Development Set;
My bags are packed, and I've had all my shots
I have traveller's checks and pills for the trots!

The Development Set is bright and noble
Our thoughts are deep and our vision global;
Although we move with the better classes
Our thoughts are always with the masses.

In Sheraton Hotels in scattered nations
We damn multi‑national corporations;
injustice seems easy to protest
In such seething hotbeds of social rest.

We discuss malnutrition over steaks
And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.
Whether Asian floods or African drought,
We face each issue with open mouth.

We bring in consultants whose circumlocution
Raises difficulties for every solution ‑‑
Thus guaranteeing continued good eating
By showing the need for another meeting.

The language of the Development Set
Stretches the English alphabet;
We use swell words like "epigenetic"
"Micro", "macro", and "logarithmetic"

It pleasures us to be esoteric ‑‑
It's so intellectually atmospheric!
And although establishments may be unmoved,
Our vocabularies are much improved.

When the talk gets deep and you're feeling numb,
You can keep your shame to a minimum:
To show that you, too, are intelligent
Smugly ask, "Is it really development?"

Or say, "That's fine in practice, but don't you see:
It doesn't work out in theory!"
A few may find this incomprehensible,
But most will admire you as deep and sensible.

Development set homes are extremely chic,
Full of carvings, curios, and draped with batik.
Eye‑level photographs subtly assure
That your host is at home with the great and the poor.

Enough of these verses ‑ on with the mission!
Our task is as broad as the human condition!
Just pray god the biblical promise is true:
The poor ye shall always have with you.

End of Semester

Hello everyone,
As the end of semester and the completion of my masters are nearly here I thought I should comment on what is going on, in case you are curious. I have a few options in front of me and I am thinking about what to do next.

So my aunt Susie is coming and we will be travelling around Australia for a few weeks. That should be fun. And then after that I have a ticket to return to Canada. I am not sure if I will use it.

Some of my options include; staying here and working (this depends on getting a job and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, DIC), staying here and studying more (I'm not sure I'm too keen on that), going back to Canada and Victoria, or going somewhere else. So this mixed with school papers is what I am on about these days.

I do like the idea of being in summer, but I also like it here. Anyway, there you go, in case you were wondering what is going on. Of course there are other things too, for example, I got a new haircut, that kind of stuff.

Mr. Floaties Lives

Hello everyone,

POOP (People Opposed to Outfall Pollution) is a group that I am a member of. In the city I am from, Victoria, British Columbia (as opposed to the state I am in, Victoria, Australia) dumps its raw sewage into the ocean. I believe 120 million litres a day. Now although it's kinda funny that tourists pay to go in boats out past the outfall and don't know. Also that some of the sewage heads down to our southern neighbours (who are in turn shitting on the rest of the world) does not excuse our crappy behaviour.

Those of you who attened my LUP will remember how Mr. Floatie paid a visit. Here is a picture that I took of him when I helped escort him in the Oak Bay Tea Party Parade. He is giving the 'number two' signal, as he often does in photos. He is holding Flat Stanley, who is a world traveller.

Here is a video that POOP made. So watch it and feel free to tell others too.

Australia and the US Working Together Again!

Hey there,
Given all the stuff that has been going on in the news people may have missed this one. So I thought I would draw attention to it.

Did you know that on Tuesday, April 17th, the US and Australia signed an agreement to exchange asylum seekers? So if you are fleeing persecution and you get on a boat to head to Australia (since you believe they may want to help you since they claim to believe in democracy and a 'fair-go for all'), you could end up in the US. That's right. These two migrant-loving countries have agreed to swap asylum seekers.

So Howard said, "It is part of our policy to reinforce the message to those who would engage in people smuggling that this country has a very tough border protection policy," (Squires, Nick, April 19th, 2007, "U.S. To Exchange Asylum Seekers With Australia", Daily Telegraph).

On a, I believe, somewhat related note, the Australian government is gearing up to open a new 800 bed detention centre on Christmas Island. We knew they were gearing up for something.

Construction and Diggers (what they call soldiers, I think)

Hello,
so today is Anzac Day. It's about soldiers, like Remembrance Day. Anyway, I thought I would do a lot of homework and reading today, since I don't have to go to work.

But the house next door is under construction, and has been since I moved in. Anyway, today there are people working there. But the part that is really annoying, and bugs me when I am home during the day, is that they only appear to have one or two people working at any one time. This was the same at the last place I lived. They have too few workers, working too few hours (but apparently holidays are fine), so things take way too long. And as a neighbour, there is one hammering every seven minutes, which is very disruptive to thinking about public policy.

My message to these people is to hire an adequate number of staff and have clear timelines, and quit making all this noise when I am trying to study.

P.S - for those peace-lovers like myself, I have a happy story. Last weekend my friend Mona and I went to the town of Portland to visit my friend Lillian. Her friend Andy, has a radio show on the local community radio station and he asked if we would be his for the hour and a half. Mona is from the Middle East and I'm from Canada, and we met at an anti-war meeting in Melbourne. Anyway, we discussed Anzac Day in the face of the current wars that are being fought, specifically since Australia is in Iraq.

PPS- I am still mad at the construction.

Biggest and Best Part 2

Hey there,

Sorry it's been a while. School and work are killing me. But I have more biggest and best to report on. In the paper (the Age, daily paper in Melbourne) there was an article about building the BIGGEST desalination plant in the WORLD. Yow. Here are some photos that I have taken.

You will notice this one is 'Offically The World's Best Cheese', (the word officially means it's true).

This is the 'World Famous Penguin Parade' - I never heard of it before I came.

This is apparently where they grow the 'Best Asparagus in the World'.

No but Yes or Yes but No

Communicating with Australians is a difficult task. After being here for a year and living, working, studying, and socializing with them, I can honestly say they are an indirect bunch. I explain it this way. If you ask them what they want for dinner, they will tell you they had chicken last night. So they won't answer your question directly. You have to be Sherlock Holmes and deduce what they mean. Sometimes you get it right, and other times not so much. It depends if you care or not.

I figure if the issue at hand is really important then someone can tell me in regular words, if they don't care enough to say, then I don't care either. This lack of interest in what other people aren't saying, leads to people talking behind your back. But if they would rather waste time whining (or in Australia whinging) as opposed to addressing the issue and coming to a resolution, then obviously they have too much time on their hands.

This then leads to questions of work ethic and decision making. Work ethic.... well Australia is the home of the 8 hour day. 8 hours of work, 8 hours of leisure and 8 hours of sleep, which is cool, but does seem to give people a certain amount of entitlement about their work. That is if they are working, some workers don't want to or don't have the skills.

So why is that? What prevents people from pulling their thumb out and keeping their head down? This is what I call the 'No but Yes.' Things that are obvious and inevitable, when originally presented are generally given a no at first. Then with some discussion, it is turned into a yes, which is what it should have been in the first place. This is the biggest time waster, and it's boring.

Those in positions of authority buy into it with providing the whinger an opportunity to voice their concerns, rather than providing clear directives. But being direct is not something they are good at so the cycle continues.