Send in the Clowns

I have been trying not to fill this space with depressing news, but this is too important to let it slide... Those who have been paying attention will have noticed that the Not-At-All-Honourable Prime MInister John Howard, in his desperation to draw attention away from fuck-ups like Iraq (see previous entry), has embarked on a war against indigenous communities. He has sent police and army personnel (!) into various communities in outback Australia in a hastily-conceived plan to address the currently topical issue of child sexual abuse, which he has been happy to ignore for the eleven years he has been in power.

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Blood for Oil

I feel vindicated, but not the slightest bit happy, to hear the news today.

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Irati Wanti: The Poison - Leave It! (part III)

The last in our series of articles on Indigenous Australia and the nuclear game.

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Irati Wanti: The Poison - Leave It! (part II)

We continue our investigation of the effects of the nuclear treadmill on Australia's most vulnerable people.

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Naughty Radio

Those of you with passwords to the members area may like to visit Naughty Radio to check out our second webcast.  It contains all sorts of goodies selected from our CD collection, and is perfect for loading up the MP3 player or just streaming while you work.  Those who haven't heard the first program should get their arses into gear and have a listen - don't forget to leave a comment when you do, whether it's a "Thank-you", or a "Think again!" - we love the abuse!!!

Irati Wanti: The Poison - Leave It! (part I)

Updated on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 10:30 by The Dilettante

Indigenous peoples all over the world have always suffered from the effects of colonialism and western notions of "progress", and the Australian aborigines are no exception. Whether their land is torn open to retrieve uranium (as in Kakadu and Roxby Downs) or poisoned by fallout (as in Emu Junction and Maralinga), the march of nuclear technology continues to be one of the more insidious evils perpetrated upon indigenous Australians. As promised here is a brief account of the various impacts upon its first inhabitants, of Australia's attempts to play with the big boys of the world's nuclear power-game.

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Maruyama Sensei Seminar - Photos

Yes I have been terribly slack I know - but here they are at last!!!

I have created a gallery on this site for my favourite Aikido photos (lo-res) and posted the best of a large batch that I took of last year's seminar by Master Maruyama Koretoshi (Brisbane).  The culling process was long-winded and painful as there were several hundred to go through and, since I was just learning to use our new camera, many of the best opportunities I got turned out less than perfect photos (quite a few were shite!).

Oh well, the 2007 seminar is coming up fast so hopefully I will be able to get some good ones this time (focus, damn you! focus!) in between being dropped by big tough martial artists wearing skirts.  If you are interested in attending, visit the Brisbane Aikido Yuishinkai website here.  Pre-booking will save you a considerable sum off the seminar fees and help cover some of our up-front costs! 

Hope to see you there...

Happy 40th Birthday, Citizens!

On this day 40 years ago, just over 90 percent of (white) Australians voted to elevate the status of Aborigines from that of "fauna" to that of citizens!.  Although their situation has improved only marginally since then, this was a major step towards the reconciliation of indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of this Great Southern Land.

We would like to wish them many happy returns and success in their ongoing struggles for justice and fair treatment...

Cannot Buy My Soul

Our favourite record at the moment is a compilation of various Australian artists paying tribute to Kev Carmody, a singer and songwriter I have long admired.

I first saw him perform at a fundraiser for The Wilderness Society in the late '80s where I was also performing in a local theatre troupe I had started with some activist friends.  I had the privilege of talking to him backstage after the gig and was delighted by his approachability and his ability to cut through bullshit to the core of any matter.

His concerts are a wonderful blend of storytelling and politically direct songs all delivered with a warm, no-nonsense humour which has endeared him with audiences around the world.  When we went to see him at the Powerhouse in Brisbane a couple of years ago, he had lost none of his power to charm and challenge, though he had gained a few white hairs!

The contributors on this CD include Paul Kelly, John Butler Trio, Bernold [sic] Fanning and Archie Roach among many others.  The bonus second disc showcases all the original tracks (which in my opinion still rate among the best moments in Australian music).  Buy it!...

The clip below was recorded at the "Make Poverty History" benefit concert in Melbourne 2006