Oh, and a belated welcome to my blog Brad!

NOTE: several follow-up comments on this subject have been moved to their own post on this topic.

Originally Posted By alcove6409@Brad –
“it isn’t the “privileged elite” that are pushing this move for environmental reform and preservation, it is everyone.”
…. Brad, certain proposed environmental reforms, such as mitigation of assumed sea-level rise due to global warming, are based upon unproven and inadequately researched hypotheses that have been popularized because of huge media coverage. Only factions with horrendous financial clout and political resources are likely to direct public opinion thusly. Who got the money together to get Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” published, distributed, and widely read and exposed on TV, in goodly time for the recent Copenhagen affair? It wasn’t you, I, or Sachiko, was it? The world’s audience of commoners was indeed rightly concerned, and somewhat vulnerable to scare tactics. However, draconian carbon-use rationing linked to extralegal taxation scemes imposed by an imperialist and supranational financial entity (as proposed in Copenhagen) would not be a rational choice for “all of us”. There ARE exceptions (not just me)…a substantial answer to the WHOLE world’s environmental challenges would have to be coming from much better science than that represented at Copenhagen. The financial “upper crust” is not competent to engineer either a substantial global warming or cooling, let alone manage true economic reform….it mostly just continues its ancient parasitic manipulations — allowing whatever abuses that might induce — until the bitter end.

This is why I HATE conspiracy theorists, They’re too paranoid for their own good. That and they just think too damn much. Please do a little more research before you decide to refute me again with accusations and little, if no proof to back them up. Your “theories”, such as they may be fly directly in the face of reality, such as it may be. These environmental reforms hold no value or benefit to the rich and powerful. If anything it will only force them to spend money on something they feel like they shouldn’t have to pay for. You really need to look at the facts of the situation before you come to your own conclusions. Once again, reason and logic will always prevail over those with closed minds, and you sir have a closed mind.

Originally Posted By alcove6409*snipped for length reduction*

now I would simply say TL;DR to discredit you, but considering I actually read that long block of text I find many problems with your logic. First of all, it isn’t the “privileged elite” that are pushing this move for environmental reform and preservation, it is everyone. if the faction you call “the privileged elite” had their way. This world would sink into a premature ice age. Furthermore it is not the “elite” as you call them perpetrating these crimes of hate and suppression against indians, it is once again the average man and/or woman. The only thing that the Australian authorities are guilty of is denial. They and their superiors don’t want to admit that their supposedly “peaceful nation” has a big problem with racists and those who spread hate propaganda. You should mind your thoughts before you type them out or speak them, lest you wish to sound completely and utterly ridiculous.

Originally Posted By jrSachiko writes: “..cricket – I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand how anyone could watch..”

not watch, listen! on (BBC) radio, cricket is fabuluous, even in mid-winter you can feel the summer, the heat, the time drift by (and no, I do not understand the game itself).

I like alcove6409′s analysis, it’s full of insight and thought-provoking.

re. the racism.

having come to live in the UK as an adult (from continental Europe) I’d like to add that (a) I still remember the recent, outrageous treatment of Afghan boat-people who were forced to go to Nauru because of Australian ‘concerns’, and (b) that here in the UK we have similar problems to contend with.

to Brad, who says “They fear because they do not understand. They do not understand because their mind is closed.” but still believes that “Reason and logic will always prevail over blind hatred and prejudice.”, my (current) favourite proverb is of Chinese origin:

“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood”

That proverb is strangely appropriate. I rather like it.

Originally Posted By jr
Sachiko writes: “..cricket – I don’t think I’ll ever be able to understand how anyone could watch..”

not watch, listen! on (BBC) radio, cricket is fabuluous, even in mid-winter you can feel the summer, the heat, the time drift by (and no, I do not understand the game itself).

I think that’s actually why people say they “like” the cricket – because it is the ultimate time waster. But I hate wasting time – there’s just so many more useful and productive things I could be doing!

I still remember the recent, outrageous treatment of Afghan boat-people who were forced to go to Nauru because of Australian ‘concerns’

This incident – and the election result that sprang out of it – is possibly the most shameful episode in Australia’s history. And sadly, it has left a permanent scar on Australian politics – the current more progressive government is now trying to taking a fairer and more compassionate approach to asylum seekers, but they have to appear to be to “tough” to many Australian voters. On the other hand, the conservatives are still spouting the same racist crap disguised as “law and order”, and a lot of Australian voters are buying it, as the media loves whipping up a storm of hysteria around it. I have little doubt that this is a contributing factor to these racist attacks: John Howard played the race card in order to win what would otherwise have been an unwinnable election for him – something no other Australian Prime Minister has been dishonourable enough to do, and with very good reason.

Originally Posted By David of Brisbane
In the police’s defence the media is only reporting assaults on Indians, we don’t really know how many assaults are occurring on non-Indians. Maybe these gangs aren’t discriminating?

If the gangs aren’t particularly discriminating against Indians, then there must be hundreds of these attacks going on. The media would certainly be reporting that if it were the case, so I’m sure it isn’t.

There is definately a culture of violence that has developed into the nightlife. Even in Brisbane I have friends that don’t go to night clubs because they feel there are some people (idiots) that just come to the city looking to get drunk and get into fights.

That’s one of many reasons why I never go to night clubs!

not watch, listen! on (BBC) radio, cricket is fabuluous, even in mid-winter you can feel the summer, the heat, the time drift by (and no, I do not understand the game itself).

I like alcove6409′s analysis, it’s full of insight and thought-provoking.

re. the racism.

having come to live in the UK as an adult (from continental Europe) I’d like to add that (a) I still remember the recent, outrageous treatment of Afghan boat-people who were forced to go to Nauru because of Australian ‘concerns’, and (b) that here in the UK we have similar problems to contend with.

to Brad, who says “They fear because they do not understand. They do not understand because their mind is closed.” but still believes that “Reason and logic will always prevail over blind hatred and prejudice.”, my (current) favourite proverb is of Chinese origin:

“A closed mind is like a closed book; just a block of wood”

You won’t be able to call yourself an Aussie until you love the cricket.

It’s really sad these assaults are happening. They seem to be happening when they are alone or outnumbered by these gangs (of cowards). In the police’s defence the media is only reporting assaults on Indians, we don’t really know how many assaults are occurring on non-Indians. Maybe these gangs aren’t discriminating?

There is definately a culture of violence that has developed into the nightlife. Even in Brisbane I have friends that don’t go to night clubs because they feel there are some people (idiots) that just come to the city looking to get drunk and get into fights.

Ten years ago it wasn’t like this.