Labor in Kooyong, Friday 13th and on to Same-Sex Marriage

[tcpip]

Last Thursday attended a very good Labor function in the very safe Liberal seat of Kooyong. Had the opportunity to mention the perhaps too optimistic opinion poll from Roy Morgan. Candidate Steve Hurd showed some touching from the Muse with skill and insight in poetry. Took the opportunity to chat with former premier Joan Kirner and (of course) brought up her own skills with the muse. Quite surprisingly she remembered me even though we hadn't spoken to each other for over ten years.

Last eve 'twas a dark and stormy night, ideal for a viewing of the HP Lovecraft derived Return to Innsmouth, as glasses of glühwein were sipped. It was the perfect precursor for a visit to Nightmare House (a rather interesting game of New England horror and splitting psychic and physical conflicts). When the clock struck midnight, a new celebration was called - for it was the second birthday of the rodent brothers, Trouble, Mischief and Calamity who received, in good spirits, a serve of cheesekake.

Just returned from the Equal Love, where I had the time to spend some time with Adam Bandt (Greens candidate for Melbourne and Fiona Patten (convenor, Australian Sex Party). Gave the statement of religious leaders who support same-sex marriage to rally organiser Ali Hogg who commented on it and directed others to your writer for more information. Press release will be coming soon, campaign will be on-going. On a related note, gave the service last Sunday for Kenneth Davidson's address. Will be attending ANZUUA workshop next weekend.

Comments

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

Wow, you've been busy! Keep up the good work :D

Also, I am so sorry I couldn't follow up on your enquiry about the Naxalite problem. I wanted to gather some fresh news pieces to give you a rich, useful picture but got bogged down with work :( Some new developments have been taking place with the center presenting a two-pronged (tribal devlopment + increased security) strategy, and the Maoists agreeing to negotiation through a religious leader. I will try to put together a post at the earliest.

Cheers and all the best!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update Blue Dog. I am glad to hear that there is mediation going on, and somewhat surprised that it is through a religious leader. Perhaps the Maoists are not as fanatical and doctrinaire as I originally thought. I am sure they have legitimate cause for complaint, from the little I know of the very uneven development of Indian modernism, but the tactics of terrorism cannot be condoned in any circumstances.

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

Well the Maoists had "agreed to" mediation by a religious leader, but only on their own - the government had not proposed him as mediator. So the government had said they don't need a mediator and the Maoists need to talk directly so that option went out of the windows.

As for legitimate cause, the people of the Eastern states certainly do have a legitimate cause for complaint. And the cause is that the mineral and hydroelectric resource pieces of land are being used for / given away to corporates for mining or industrial development; and in the process the inhabitants of those lands are being displaced and/or their natural environments are being damaged. There is nothing illegal about such decisions per se (the Right to Property is not a fundamental right), but there are valid questions of ethical correctness and procedural justice. Furthermore, one state government (I think it was Jharkhand) wrote the central government for relaxation in forest use laws for the "development of the state"! And the inefficiency and corruption in paying out compensation to affected people is no small factor in compounding the problem.

However, that being said, The Maoists have absolutely no moral leg to stand on in this whole affair. Their dealings with the tribals, whom they routinely exploit, and the government, are completely based on deceit and violence. It is of course difficult to describe "The Maoists" as whole in such fashion given that their cadres often come from the tribals, but aggressive use of force against the Maoists has to be used as an indispensable part of the strategy in dealing with the problem of discontent.

[pmax3.livejournal.com]

I meant "out of the window" :P