pOkE the pLaNeT

The major story in Australia this week, and probably from now until the election, is a dramatic change in tactics regarding the issue of aboriginal communities and the problems they face. How the government proposes to manage the communities here would never work in the U.S, not without a major media storm.

A recent report on 45 communities in the Northern Territory found endemic alcohol and child abuse in each and every one. Until now, the whole attitude towards these communities seems to have been 'give them the money and let them sink or swim', but this report seems to have flicked a switch. The Prime Minister has drafted federal and state law officials as well as the army to implement a plan whereby every single child under the age of 16 will be physically checked for signs of child abuse. Welfare payments will be partially withheld if children are not attending school, alcohol is banned and access to the communities is to be monitored. One major step is the outright ban on pornography, which as far as I can tell is the first time a federal government has made a direct link between pornography and child abuse. Thats ironic since the Territory, being a federal territory and not a state, has the most lenient pornography laws in the country along with the Australian Capital Territory, our version of D.C.

So the police are flying into 60 communities this week with the military providing logistical support. Opponents of the scheme characterise the move as 'tanks rolling into reservations' but the military seems to be restricted to providing services rather than policing. Its been called a land grab, with the PM vaguely suggesting that land will be appropriated for the foreseable future and adequate recompense made. Thats not going down well... the traditional landowners at uluru ( Ayers Rock ) are threatening to close the park down over this. The real problem is people fleeing these communities for the bush because they believe their children will be taken from them. Thats not a wholly unjustified suspicion... children were removed by previous administrations when it was determined that the communities were unsafe. So many were taken and under such contentious circumstances its now called the 'Stolen Generation'.

I dont know if it will work. The same governments, state and federal, who are cheerleading this plan are the ones who reportedly starved the communities of funding and trained medical and counselling staff. I do believe that if you tried this in an American state youd have an uproar.

K

Good to see the website up and running again.

So whats been happening in Australia this year? Well, we have an election coming up soon, so thats one speedbump we have to get past before life returns to normal. No one particularly cares who wins because as in most countries, whatever they promise the two main rivals usually adopt the middle ground when they do eventually win. Australia still has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan but if the Labor party wins I believe the troops in Iraq will be removed... and sent to Afghanistan. Remarkably, to date I believe only one soldier has been killed in all of this, and for a country at war for five years thats something else.

Dry season here in Northern Australia, and the drought rages on along the eastern coastline. The result is an exodus of retirees and others with the means to move from dry regions to the north where we have water. My neighbours in the hills have taken to planting vines, not so much for profit as for that 'Tuscan Lite' feel you get when you wake in the morning and gaze over your two lousy acres of vines as you sip your decaf expresso. I consider it my purpose in life to screw this all up for them, and the plan involves a few strategically placed derelict cars, mostly VW's, some abandoned roadside attractions, dawn to dusk riveting and maybe the odd noisy cookout complete with cask wine. Vine Lady over the road is the principal of the local real estate firm so the emphasis will be on lowering local real estate values. I can do that.

Papua New Guinea also has an election this month, and its interesting to see the Westminster system mixed with the traditional melanesian system of government. The Missionary Aviation Fellowship in PNG has issued a public notice stating they will not carry ballot boxes because the boxes are often seized and destroyed or hidden by opposing groups, and the crews and passengers on these flights are terrorized.

Weird history fact. Australians have just discovered the remains of a submarine that went missing off Rabaul in 1914, the first submarine used by Australia in wartime. It was part of the Australian invasion of German New Guinea in 1914 and after leaving Simpson harbor vanished for ninety three years with all crew aboard. I believe that makes it the oldest known sub wreck from a war apart from the CSS Hunley.

K

Darren Joel Carter was born on February 22, 1969, in Canon City and lived his life in Fremont County. He was a connoisseur of literature and good, hard music. He enjoyed profanity and had a fantastic sense of humor. He was the funniest guy he knew. We will miss his intelligence, verbosity, and charisma. Darren passed from this world on May 26, 2007. He leaves behind three wonderful sons, Alexander, Tyler, and Zachary, and their mother, Justina, of Penrose; his mother Bee Carter and father Joe (Darla) Carter of Canon City; two sisters, Gladie (Randy) Miller and Heather Carter of Canon City; a niece, Kyla; dear friend, Anna; and many other friends and relatives. Darren was preceded in death by his dog, Nonny. Memorial service arrangements pending.