Flags Of Convenience

"Small stores of all kinds lay in neat bundles for storage in holds. Food for the voyage, seeds for the colonists of far-away New South Wales, wooden and iron implements, guns, gunpowder and shot, rolls of cloth, needles and scissors, canvas for sails, blacksmith's tools, pots and pans, cast iron camp ovens, wooden kegs of rum and brandy, bottles of wine for the gentlemen, bonnets for the ladies, furniture and material for dresses or curtains, all were consigned for the merchants of Sydney Town... Everywhere there was a pitch of activity. A group of late arrivals, three convicts, was moved through it all, chains clanking grimly. Sailors clambered about the rigging making sure every sheet was correct. Sails were shaken out and tested on the yardarm... The ship would sail on the morrow."

Valerie Lhuede, Yerranderie Is My Dreaming.


I can't believe what a fool I've been, that I briefly thought this government was alright; that I flirted with the conservatives. I have sinned in my heart, lusted, as former President Jim whatever his name was said. In disavowing everything that I had ever believed, in sobering up and taking a new course, I dismissed as irrelevant everything I had believed. My turning point from marshmallow left to utterly confused was going through those left wing icons, The Family Court and the Child Support Agency. These utterly dishonest and utterly corrupt institutions do so much harm to so many people, all in the name of disintegrating the nuclear family; all in the name of that greatest lie, "the best interests of children". It was Hitler in Mein Kempf, of course, who said if you could convince the people something was in the best interests of children they would tolerate anything, and thus it has proved to be.

Not just despised and dysfunctional, as I regularly call them on radio; the betrayal of the working populace is far deeper and more systematic. I, like many others, briefly thought that a so-called conservative Prime Minister couldn't possibly condone or even tolerate the brutal insanities and the blatant corruption that characterise these institutions; the alchemy of truth which turns perfectly decent fathers into marauding and abusive patriarchs. It doesn't matter what excuse they use, you will lose. If you're a male. And your kids will suffer. If you are a male. And for some reason, a long long time ago, I thought the conservatives would fix this.

APEC is coming to Sydney, and the cowardly, treacherous little man who was in a position to fix these appalling institutions but didn't, flirted with the separated dad vote and then decided there were more votes in the women, our wonderful Prime Minister John Howard, is about to do his swan song on the world stage. His government is on the nose from coast to coast, lagging badly in the polls, facing generational annihilation at the coming election; and he must be hoping that some miracle will change the nation's tide of disgust with his timid, mealy mouthed, dishonest, unimaginative little ways. But nothing is going to change. They'll have to dynamite him out of the position, people say; he is not going to leave of his own accord. He's addicted to it.

Here, 235 years after Captain Cook sailed into Sydney Harbour, we are coated across the suburbs, our stories overlaying constantly everything we once believed; threads of narrative that wind into the body populace and make the city the depth charged place that it is; a city built on tyranny and crime and hope. Brash, arrogant, superficial, are we all that bad? asks the Sydney Morning Herald's glossy magazine. You bet we are. Twenty two of the world's leaders are about to see the Harbour Bridge for themselves; and ordinary working people, already savagely stripped of every spare cent by excessive taxes; can only look on from afar for the spectacle they have paid for with their own sweat, blood and endurance. Hypocrisy, it's all hypocrisy.

THE BIGGER STORY:

Protesters, police fail to agree on APEC

August 30, 2007 - The Age:


NSW police and activists are on a collision course during next week's APEC summit after failing to negotiate an acceptable protest route through Sydney's CBD.

The Stop Bush Coalition and NSW Greens said the police had been unreasonable in denying their proposed route for the September 8 protest, which would pass the US Consulate at Martin Place and include Macquarie Street.

They are threatening legal action if the route is not approved.

The escalation of the dispute came as unprecedented powers allowing police to target unruly protesters during the APEC week came into effect.

The laws, which will remain in place until midnight (AEST) September 12, allow police to search and detain people within restricted zones, set up check points and prohibit certain items.

Premier Morris Iemma denied the government or police were depriving activists their right to protest, adding the additional powers and equipment for officers were needed to protect citizens and guests.

"This is a democracy and in a democracy you're entitled to protest but you're not entitled to disrupt, cause inconvenience, break the law or take the law into your own hands," Mr Iemma told reporters.

"If you want to make your point, make your point peacefully, make it in accordance with the rules."

Incoming Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said 29 people who are viewed as a security threat would from be informed that they were on an "exclusion list" for APEC, which will prevent them from entering the Sydney CBD.

Market turmoil not a big issue for APEC, US says
Reuters - 35 minutes ago
WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - The recent turmoil in global financial markets is not expected to be a major topic at next week's Asia-Pacific leaders summit ...
APEC to reject India, focus on internal issue at Sydney summit Economic Times
Australia Ready for APEC Summit Voice of America
Climate Change, Trade, Free Trade Zone to Top APEC Summit Agenda Voice of America
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PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
Police, protester stalemate continues ahead of APEC
ABC Online, Australia - 10 hours ago
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle is calling on the Federal Government to reveal its role in the creation of a black list of APEC protesters. ...
Protesters, police fail to agree on APEC The Age
APEC protesters sticking to demo route The Age
APEC secure despite no horses: Keelty Sydney Morning Herald
INQ7.net - Sydney Morning Herald
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The Money Times
Malaysia criticises APEC climate change agenda
Reuters - 14 hours ago
Host Australia has written to leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum to put climate change at the top of the agenda at the ...
China's Hu says climate change on APEC agenda Reuters India
China set to push climate change deal The Age
Climate change a priority for APEC as it could impact growth: APEC ... International Herald Tribune
The Australian - Brandon Sun
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Sydney locks-down for APEC leaders
TVNZ, New Zealand - 17 hours ago
The week-long APEC invasion begins this weekend, as Sydney prepares to host Asian and Pacific leaders including US President George W Bush, ...
Australians lack warmth for Bush on eve of APEC - survey Radio New Zealand
PREVIEW: Australian ghost city awaits APEC summit Monsters and Critics.com
Bush a no show? No way, says White House Sydney Morning Herald
MSNBC - Melbourne Herald Sun
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Sydney Morning Herald
APEC hijacks commuters' new buses
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 7 hours ago
"The APEC conference tentacles have spread far beyond the CBD," he said. The State Government has announced clearways along many of Sydney's busiest roads ...

Sky News Australia
APEC powers in effect
Sky News Australia, Australia - 1 hour ago
State Premier Morris Iemma says the powers, including the authority to stop and search people in restricted areas, are necessary and that APEC is the most ...
APEC powers now in effect SBS - World News Australia
Increased police powers online for APEC Macquarie National News
Sydney ready for its biggest security challenge: Iemma ABC Online
all 9 news articles »
1500 ADF personnel to provide APEC security
ABC Online, Australia - 28 Aug 2007
Next week's security operations during the APEC leaders' summit in Sydney will involve 1500 Australian Defence personnel. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) ...
Lethal force 'possible' during APEC Macquarie National News
Fortress Sydney: the lockdown begins Sydney Morning Herald
Sea, sky security drills ramp up ABC Online
Sydney Morning Herald
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