7.30 Report

Did anyone else happen to watch the 7.30 report tonight? Sure, most people don't care too much about international politics, but i found three stories disturbingly brilliant.

First: David Hicks

So, he's pleaded guilty. Any surprises there? Well, quite frankly, no. The American's have really left him no other choice and this is the quickest way he can return home to Australia.

I loved the interview that Kerry did with two of his lawyers. It was all spoken in a double entendre lingo which came across as a very intelligently spoken "fuck you" to the US government. Anyone with half a brain can work out what they were saying, even though the court has pretty much revoked every freedom of speech for the time being.

I know i can't speak for everyone, and i'm sure there are (naive) people out there that will now think "he's pleaded guilty, therefore he must be a terrorist" but anyone with half a brain can see that he just wants to escape the US bias and perhaps have a chance at a fair trial. Even if it is following a sentencing and requiring some kind of appeal process. The fact that the US wouldn't allow 2/3 of his defence team into the court, and then rushed proceedings to disadvantage him as much as possible is rather evident of the dodginess going on over there.

I, for one, think that even if he is guilty - the American's have gone about this so cruddily that he doesn't deserve to be imprisoned for what he's done... Ok, so that might be a bit of a rash statement, and i reserve my right to jump back on this one, but at the moment i am irate over the whole situation.

Whilst watching the interview, i couldn't help but think of the comparison made to Star Wars. The more the evil empire tightens their grip, the more of the rebellion will slip through it's fingers.

read the details here: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21453869-2,00.html


Second: Sekai Holland

Ok, so i'd never heard of her before. I'm not exactly up-to-date on everything when it comes to international politics, but she is an activist in the opposition party - the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe. Just over a week ago Robert Mugabe's people brutally tortured her (and others) for hours.

She ended up with a broken leg, broken arms, broken ribs, lacerations on her back, legs and arms and was not allowed medical treatment until three days after the torture took place. She is now recovering in a South African hospital.

She is an amazingly strong person. The highlight being when the 7.30 report journalist asked her if she would return to Zimbabwe to which she reacted with an almighty look of disgust and said "EXCUSE ME! I have spent forty years of my life fighting for the rights of everyone, to not return would be a cop out!" It sent shivers down my spine. A mere two weeks since she was battered to within inches of her life she is willing to say "bring it on, let me at 'em!" Now that's amazing!

read the details here: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/zimbabwean-activist-recovers-from-beating/2007/03/14/1173722553529.html
and here:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/bashed-but-unbeaten-sekai-holland-refused-to-cry/2007/03/23/1174597885848.html

In addition Robert Mugabe openly stated that he feels as though people opposing his regime deserve to be beaten. What an absolute disgrace! If the Australia cricket team tours Zimbabwe later in the year - i will be disgusted.

read the details here:
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/mugabe_now_shameless_in_his_brutality/


Third: Aboriginal Land & Sea Rights

There has been new legislation introduced to give Aboriginal land-owners the rights to the sea between the high and low tide marks in the Northern Territory. Apparently up until now, they owned the sea-bed between the tide marks, but now they will also own the water above the bed. Hence this has major implications for fishing in the NT.

It seems to be a massive plus to the traditional land owners, as it will potentially provide more income to their communities via fishing license revenue, and will also provide jobs to the locals to patrol the coastal environment. Sure the fishermen are up in arms - but really, if someone is willing to pay $1000-odd to go up to the NT for a fishing holiday, what will an extra few dollars really hurt them in order to pay the locals for the priviledge of fishing in their waters?

read more about it here: http://www.nlc.org.au/html/land_sea.html


Even though each story has it's dark side, if you pull the positives out of them all - it can make you realise that this world is not such a horrible, nor cruel place.

Or maybe i'm the only person insane enough to gain hope out of them...

Introduction

So, i never make new years resolutions, but i have decided that this year i shall embrace the side of my personality which has been left on the wayside for too many moons.

So, welcome to the new blog of Tweed Boy. He shall attempt to practise his writing skills whilst hopefully entertaining at least a few members of the online world. At this stage he is deciding to remain anonymous, although it wouldn't take the world's greatest stalker to discover the real person behind this. After all, his name is rather unique.

This blog is likely to be inspired by recently met friends, three of which have shown him a side of life that is filling the empty chasm left following the departure of a dearly beloved. A fourth 'not-so-recently' met friend also inspires him, so between those four and the multitude of gigs he will attend, this blog shall be fattened up over the coming months.

I hope anyone who stumbles across this will find some sort of entertainment value out of it, be it laughing with me or at me.

Au revoir.