darfur watch

If ever there was a case for better regulation of the international arms trade it is the fun and games in Darfur. Found this site today.

Otherwise, track down this documentary. Produced for the Dispatches series by Mark Thomas, shouty comedian, activist and Anti-Dams campaigner. You will, I predict, be amazed, angered and dismayed that a group of teenagers in the UK seeking to point out the loopholes in UK arms control laws were able to legitimately acquire a range of torture implements and somewhat lethal weapons.

on natasha leaving

As a long time supporter of both the party, and the legislator herself, I am not sure what to feel at Natasha Stott Despoja's announcement that she won't recontest her Senate seat at the next federal election (due next year).

Read her reasons here.

Nat has been the highest profile member of the party since the days of Chipp and Haynes, a voice of sanity amidst some very fractious MP's (my perspective from the outside looking inward) and has earned a formidable reputation in recent years for her legislative work. Yet, she still endures the slightly backhanded compliments of the likes of Michelle Grattan on the ABC this morning who opined that she "had too much too young" and "was never really able to fulfil her potential". Of all people Alexander Downer, not exactly the most free thinking liberal politician in the history of the world gave her a glowing revue for her work this morning.

Why is she going?

Citing worklife balance, health issues and a new perspective, she sounded committed, strong and passionate on the ABC this morning. This is where the mixed feelings enter into the equation. The party needs people of her calibre, with the possible exception of Andrew Bartlett the party is not blessed with extremely high profile figures at the moment. Natasha is a face and a name that even the average Australian Footie Fan can identify, especially after the period at the turn of the millenium where she was virtually ubiquitous in the media.
Electorally things maybe are not that good for the Democrats.

On the other hand, and yes I know it was biased, having read "The Natasha Factor" it is amazing she has stuck it out so long. There have been times where it has seemed that there was a collective will to punish her for having the temerity to be young, female and accomplished. No doubt there will be people who carry on about Natasha's decision to prioritise family as a "cop out" but frankly, if that is your thought process, GET A LIFE.

It will be sad to see her go, it means one less of us, and in all probability one more of what Chaplin called "Machine Men with Machine Minds", but she seems happy and certain!

Watch this space, she will be back though!

SBS and the perils of Globalisation, or something!

I have a little Saturday night ritual dear reader(should you exist)that involves SBS television. I have had the great good fortune to have fallen head over heals in love with the delicious silliness of Iron Chef! A great show out of Japan, which involves all of the offbeat wackiness one expects of the Japanese, plus some great food and a touch of the old WWF from the Rowdy Roddy Piper days. So I settled back last night, selected SBS from the menu and away we went. Chairman Kaga bit the Capsicum, the challenger, grandson of Rosanjin's head chef was introduced and the Iron Chef chosen, except he wasn't! Because we had an ad break, then we chose him, and the theme ingredient wasn't introduced, because we needed another Ad Break.

Come on, let's be serious here, one of the greatest advantages of SBS was the lack of commercial breaks in programmes, yet suddenly, just like a cold sore on the lip of the mind, there they are. No apology, no debate, just another example of the privatise or die mentality of the Prime Miniature and his cronies (I wonder if they were watching the repeated airings of the T3 float commercial?)

Go here and read someone elses erudite views.