Cartoon © Jean Burman 2011 [re Australia to export uranium to India]
Okay… that got your attention didn’t it? Sorry [grin] But I have a story to tell you!
A few years ago I was sitting in a small stone cottage in the ring of Kerry in Ireland. Rain tumbled down in the growing darkness outside… as we Aussies so far from home sat huddled around a small table by the fire waiting for our Irish Stew.
At the neighboring table were two rather stout Irish women discussing politics. Discovering we were Aussies… they turned the topic to a loud and spirited discussion about the absence of human rights in Australia’s dealings with her aboriginal people.
It made things awkward… yes. But it also made me realise how helpless we often are when it comes to issues that are beyond our control.
In short.
You can’t lay blame at the grassroots for a problem that was created further up.
Lesson learned… and from then on for the rest of the trip… I shut up about the IRA [grin]
So why is Obama here in Australia… and what has it got to to do with me?
Well nothing actually.
He doesn’t even know I’m here… yet [grin]
He’s here to reaffirm the ANZUS treaty with a pledge to bolster the US presence in the Pacific and promote bilateral cooperation between our countries “in the event of an event” in the Asia Pacific region. And he’s going to achieve all that in just under 28 hours! [grin]
But what’s this about an event?
What event?
Did somebody say there was going to be event? [grin]
Heck everyone knows that absolutely nothing happens in the Pacific. It’s one of the most laid back cruisey places on the planet. And since Pearl Harbor…. the Battle of the Coral Sea… and once the French stopped bombing the begeezers out of Muraroa atoll… it’s been all quiet on the western front [grin]
[From the archive] Cartoon © Jean Burman 2009
Nope… nothing much happens here. Life is pretty good in the islands and even though there has been an economic slowdown here on the Pacific’s largest island due to the global financial crisis… we are weathering it relatively well.
So far. So good. Fingers crossed.
But getting back to the big picture… I think we’re all a bit prone to pointing the finger over the fence at our neighbours and calling them out for perceived misdemeanors in the areas of human rights and global politics.
[Just like the ladies at the neighboring table in that little stone cottage in Ireland]
We point the finger at Canada for continuing to supply India with asbestos years after we’ve known of the catastrophic consequences to human health. People will die from this. Children are already coughing amidst clouds of asbestos dust blowing up around building sites in the slums of New Delhi. Yes… the supply of this hazardous product is unconscionable and should be exposed for what it is and stopped worldwide. Point blank.
But who are we to point the finger when just this week our Prime Minister has called for a lifting of the ban on the supply of Australian uranium to India… even though India is not a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
This sends a crazy message to the world that “nuclear-free” Australia is inconsistent and not only wildly out of step with the rest of the world [not just on climate change]… but is also willing to sell itself out at any price.
Breathing now. All is well in my world…. *deep sigh out on the count of three*
Hey… I just had an idea!
Maybe Canada can supply the asbestos to house the reactors.
And Australia can send over the uranium to be used at their discretion.
Sounds like a plan to me…
and here we were [silly billies] worrying about climate change [grin]
Nope.
There are no asteroids in my little world.
Just some dust waiting to hit the fan on asbestos.
As individuals… we have so little influence.
But together we have a lot!
And we DO have to stand up and SAY something… even if sometimes we feel powerless to change things.
PS I just saw some little kids meeting the US President on a 7 news update. One little boy received a hug instead of the usual handshake from the President and when asked later in an interview about how he managed it … he replied
“I asked”
I rest my case [grin]
You get what you ask for…
but only if you ask the right questions…
and only if you’re brave enough to speak up LOL
HAVE YOUR SAY HERE… what are your thoughts on this?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
There’s a lot to love about President Obama. I have just watched the live address to the House of Reps and he just makes so much sense and instils so much confidence. I love it that the ties between our countries remain firm and friendly… we go a long way back… and it’s great to know that this will continue into the future.
Nicely done, Jean.
I guess we (persons and nations) are hypocritical when pick on things while at home… Those who live in glass houses as they say.
I write this from my home on a small island off the west coast of Canada (the evil asbestos folks) and think of you on your island tha is also in the Pacific (the evil uranium folks). Well, I guess we have a lot that binds us.
Nice story about Obama. I so prefer him over his predecessor but think we may only have him around for another year. I’d love to be able to hug my next door neighbour again but that poor giant of country seems to be losing its way.
Thanks John
I’m just glad you’re still talking to me LOL Got to admit I was worried. But I hope I managed to get the message across that whilst we may live in democracies… by virtue of that same fact we don’t always get to choose our preferred Government. And we don’t often have a say in “affairs of state” even when those affairs affect us and others around the world and bring disrepute to our country. And then there’s the media… who are there in the middle promoting their version of the truth… so what are we to do? I guess we just go with the notion that where there’s smoke there’s fire and do our research across a broad cross section of information and hopefully come up with some semblance of “what’s really going on”. Whether we will ever REALLY know what’s going on is doubtful… [we are here after all on a need to know basis]… and who wants to know what we think? We only live here. That’s all. We can’t expect to also have a say… can we? But when the “dust” hits the fan it will be we who will ultimately pay the price [health wealth and happiness wise] That’s just how the world spins… (((chuckles)))
PS. sorry for my typos in my last post. I’m writing on my iPad, the power is out (storm) and the screen is turned down really dim to preserve the batteries.
John… sit tight… hopefully it won’t be long before the storm has passed and the power is back on. We take our modern day miracles so much for granted don’t we? We don’t know how much until we lose power LOL
Our president looks better and better to me all the time as I watch, along with many Americans, the ghastly traveling sideshow called the Republican debates. Every day brings new revelations, new gaffes, new scandals. Still though, I admit I have remained and shall continue to remain an admirer and supporter of Obama.
At the same time I maintain a healthy skepticism about our world leaders, all of them, so while I do try to remain informed I also have retreated from an emotional involvement. I figure che srea sera. I have my hands full managing my own life without worrying about the world. I always say that if my dogs get sick I call the vet, if the pipes leak I call the plumber, and if I have car trouble I call my mechanic, Not once have I ever found the need or inclination to pick up the phone and call the president to solve my problems.
John… Obama gave a very good speech to the House today. He covered every angle with consummate ease and genuine warmth in his address. It would be hard not to like the guy. I just hope that in the days weeks and months to come that there is no other sinister plan come to light for his shifting the focus away from Afghanistan and onto the Asia Pacific… although we can all probably guess what his modus operandi is here.
However… Aussies have not forgotten it was the US who were there for us in the battle of the Coral Sea… and I think there would still be many who are secretly glad to have an increased US presence here… although it may also make us a bigger target. Be that as it may… we do go a long way back… so I am hoping that whichever administration takes over remembers the legacy of the past between our two countries and does what it says it will to keep the region safe.
I share your skepticism of our current world leaders. We need a rather large broom to clear them all out. However… having said that they seem to be doing a pretty good job of that themselves. It’s a changing world that’s for sure and it will be interesting to see what happens.
Like you… I prefer to keep a safe distance but I think it’s still important to speak up on issues where we may be able to make a small difference. Even if the only difference we make is to alert people to what’s going on… those who would care in the least that is. Most people simply don’t.
John… you’d be hard pressed to catch the president on the phone tonight anyway. He flew over here a short while ago on his way to Darwin. I think it was him anyway. It sure did look like Airforce One and I think I saw Harrison Ford on the flight deck LOL
LOL. Harrison Ford for Vice President.
I must admit I’m left a bit speechless and more than a little curious about Obama’s announcement regarding military presence in Australia. I’m not sure what the real or perceived threat from China is about. Is there hard intelligence suggesting China has bellicose intentions? Or is this all a response to the new Republican mantra of American “exceptionalism,” the (to my mind, psychopathic) obsession with proving to the world that America stands above all other nations in its moral leadership, economic power, and strength. It seems more and more as if so much of what the administration will do in coming months has to do with the upcoming elections, and “sending messages” to the electorate.
Yeah.. I’m not sure either John. Australia [as far as I know] has played host to a number of joint military exercises over the years between our military forces. But I’m pretty sure not since the war has there been a permanent US base here. So it may be interesting to see how this plays out. China will be none too pleased I would imagine… but so long as there is no sabre rattling going on… and the US retains a peaceful strategy… Australia may even prove to be the catalyst in building better relations between the two. Who knows. I am ever hopeful [and as always ever the idealist! LOL]
Re American exceptionalism [clearly not a new art movement LOL] it was well served in the leader of the Oppositions speech yesterday which was only just short of grovelling. I don’t think Australia needs to go cap in hand to anyone… but pollies do what pollies do… and Obama was definitely de rigeur on the day so maybe it was the fashionable thing to do. Not sure. But currently if we had to go to an election I wouldn’t want to vote for any of them. I’m ashamed of them all. For their lack of effective leadership. For their lack of effective opposition. For their mismanagement of our country. For their continual bellyaching over petty issues when the real issues go unresolved. Not to mention the headlong rush to introduce ill conceived legislation that will negatively impact our country without consultation from the people whose lives it will affect. Once upon a time… a change of legislation was often preceded by a referendum. Not now. We haven’t seen one of those in a very long while. Oh boy… I could go on… (((chuckles))) All I can say is… thankfully we only have TWO to choose from. You guys have a whole bunch to sift through before you go to the polls. Obama’s looking pretty good from way over here given the current lineup. But what would I know? [grin]
Jean, check out my Tarot blog today for a reading that unexpectedly (by me) described perfectly the political crisis here, and the paralysis resulting from our leaders’ posturing. I was having trouble deciphering the spread when all of a sudden it hit me what it was talking about.
Hi Jean,
I’m all about questions. The better the question, the better the answer. Politics is politics. It’s a different world. The ”real” world continues on in it’s own time & space, it feels. Opinions are many & varied, we all have them. However, my energy source today is telling me to leave that to the politicians, my energy is needed elsewhere. Nice piece & lovely cartooning of course.
be good to yourself
David
That’s probably a wise decision David
I am sometimes far too outspoken for my own good. But when I believe in something I really believe in it… and simply have to say. My concern has always been for complacency. At this time there are moves afoot that if left unchallenged will change our lives forever. The danger would be if we stand back and say nothing the real world will become someone else’s version of it. No longer our own time and space. And then we’d be sad. There may not be much we can do… but you and I both are doing what we can [whether we know it or not] in our own little way here on the net. That’s probably enough for now. So glad you liked the cartoon… I have one of Tony Abbott brewing… just to keep it fair LOL
I read this post and the comments with great interest. It’s so easy to make things black and white, whether it’s with people or with nations. The same action, say, engaging in battle on foreign soil, can be a godsend, as some people see the US involvement in WWII, or an imperialist occupation, as some people see the US involvement in Iraq. A leader can speak the same words, and some will hear long overdue common sense and wise judgment, and others will hear a treasonous socialist secret conspiracy. It’s enough to make your head spin.
I am always interested in hearing other views, especially on the international level, so thank you for opening up this discussion.
You’re very wise Galen
Keeping an open mind hearing and listening and staying vitally interested is the key to it all. Of course everyone will have a differing point of view. People come from sometimes hugely different backgrounds and different nations with vastly different ethos’ is some cases. Not everyone can agree on everything but if we can keep an open mind and agree to disagree… and keep things relatively peaceful in the process I think this would go a long way toward solving so many of the world’s woes. That… and keeping a lid on politicians who say dumb things imagining falsely they have a mandate from us all. That really gets me. But I’m over it now. Thank God LOL
Thanks for being brave enough to comment [not an easy topic]