Rockhampton and the Biggest

Hello there,
so now we are in Rockhampton and the rain has stopped. There are blue skies today, which are nice to see. I have been collecting, and observing signs and notes of the biggest, best, most, first, etc. I thought that I would share some from one brochure on Rockhampton just to give you an idea of how common these statements are:
- The beef capital of Australia
- beside the largest and most picturesque river in Queensland
- largest studding venue in the southern hemisphere.

But the brochure does not mention that there is a large military base here. There is Shoalwater Bay Military Training area, and the US and Australia are doing military training exercises there. The largest in Australia! Protesters are there highlighting the environmental and evil associated with these actions.

Alice to Douglas

We are still on our trip around Australia and have traveled from Alice Springs, to Cairns and now we are in Port Douglas.

Port Douglas is one point of access for the Great Barrier Reef. We have not gone out on the boat since it has been rough and the woman at the travel centre recommended against it. So we went on a tour to the rainforest today.

In Alice Springs the local paper had articles on the “Pine Gap Four.” These four Christian activists were arrested breaking into Pine Gap, near Alice Springs. Pine Gap is the US military base and has 2-3000 US troops stationed there for two year assignments. In Alice Springs there were many indigenous Australians, but only white people worked in the establishments we went to. There were a lot of indigenous art galleries, with some interesting pieces. This picture is of Simpson's Gap, which is nearby.

Next we went to Cairns and it is a pretty town and stayed at a place on the beach. It was very relaxing. They had a lovely botanic garden there with lots of cool plants that would be fun to grow. We went to the market and they had lots of fresh food there; pineapples, avocados (five for $2.00), tomatoes, and exotic fruits.

Now we are in Port Douglas and unfortunately it is rainy. We did see some crocodiles on the river and they were big. Here is a picture of one.

Uluru - Ayers Rock to others....

Hello there,
so the journey around Australia has begun. Last week we went around Victoria to Bright and Euchua. Did you know that outside of Melbourne there are only white people living in these towns? We went to some grocery stores and only saw one person of colour. It is weird out there, I'm not too sure what is happening outside of Melbourne.

Here in Uluru (although many people insist on calling it Ayers Rock), there is a large tourist compound. Apparently, it is owned by a multi-national corporation. In 1985 the Commonwealth government returned the land to the traditional owners and then promptly had them sign a 99 year lease back to the government. So the tourist compound is not on the traditional land, and instead this companies land. They have a 60 year supply of water and do not recycle it. Also the power comes from a diesel generator over near the airport. So like mining, when it's gone, it's gone.

The Anangu people have a 100 person community nearby, but we did not see it. We went on a tour by with the only indigenous tour company, but most people opted for the McDonald's of tour companies -AAP. I have not seen any indigenous people working in the tourist compound, not even the 'local' artist. Also, all the guests seem to be white or Japanese. I'm not sure what that means or why....

Howard Happy with Harper for Canada's Withdrawl from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples!

So being reported on the news here is that Howard is not that bad since Canada agrees with him. Canada is seen as a progressive country so if we agree with Howard, that means he is not entirely evil and racist (even though he is). And the international reputation of Australia is protected.

The Globe and Mail reported on June 9th that
"Canada's decision to withdraw support for the United Nations Declaration on the Right of Indigenous Peoples coincided with a visit to Ottawa by Prime Minister John Howard of Australia — a country that strongly opposes the declaration...But the United States and Australia remained staunchly opposed. And Mr. Harper walked away from his meeting with Mr. Howard believing the declaration would be problematic, the sources said...Mr. Benjamin (Craig Benjamin, an aboriginal-rights campaigner for Amnesty International) said, “You can see how important it would be to them to get a moderate state on side — a state with a positive reputation, a state that countries with much more limited technical resources were turning to for advice.”

So Harper is ruining Canada's reputation by turning us into a country like Australia. But it's ok, since that brings us closer to the Americans too. We can be like Britain and Australia, trailing after the US on their globe-trotting missions of destruction.

“The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples presents an inspiring alternative vision of collaboration and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples working together to advance the rights of all,” Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International."

Sounds like the exact type of thing we want to avoid. Advancing rights....

"Mr. Harper and Mr. Howard have reportedly been fast friends since becoming acquainted at a 2005 meeting for the International Democratic Union, a forum for conservative leaders."

I didn't even know they had a forum for conservative leaders, (apparently Howard is the chair)sounds like a good time. I bet they eat endangered animals and cackle a lot. Good times....

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.