Understanding the Super Trawler.

 There have been many questions raised over the 9500 tonne and 142 metre long super trawler and its quota systems and what construction will it leave in its path. It’s the largest fishing vessel that would ever fish in Australian waters, and has been talked upon the nation over many different social sites and a lot of protests from the Green peace and commercial fisherman that are trying to put a stop to the largest trawler to have ever fished in Australian waters. The super trawler is targeting a fish species called Jack Mackerel, Redbait and other small pelagic fish. The super trawler has announced that there quota will be no more than 18 000 tonne but there has been commotion whether this is too big of a quota or not big enough.

 

In a recent article from the ABC, Will the super trawler Abel Tasman (Margiris) destroy our fisheries? Mr Gerry Geen, director of the firm Sea fish Tasmania says “they are looking to catch a quota of 18,000 tonnes of jack mackerel and redbait, which he says is 5% of the fish stock in that fishery.”  Many questions have been asked about if the quota is sustainable enough for the fishing industry but the 18 000 tonne of fish to be caught doesn’t just affect the target species, but the rest of the ocean’s ecosystems. Because the Animals that rely on the target species (Jack Mackerel and Redbait) as a primary food source could also be greatly affected resulting in a trophic cascade (domino effect) and possibly destroy and disrupt the whole food chain.

 

 

This is a major concern not to just the population of Redbait and Jack Mackerel but also the by catch that will be caught during the process of catching the red bait and jack Mackerel, such as dolphins, seals, or Sea Lions the list goes on but recently Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke confirmed new rules targeting at limiting the number of by-catch of seals, dolphins and sea lions. These new rules of Mr Burkes require the operation to stop fishing if a dolphin, seal or sea lion is to be caught and if they do happen to net a seal, dolphin or sea lion they are to relocate the ship 50 nautical miles from where they netted the by catch before they are to resume their fishing.

 

The super trawler is capable of wiping out colonies and schools of fish during a day because of the great technologies that the super trawler has. They use this to an advantage to track and locate the areas of where the fish are. Another reason why they are able to disrupt a whole food chain within a day is because they are able to catch up to 250 tonnes a day, that’s enough damage and disturbance to put a food chain off balance and potentially destroy it.

 

To see the super trawler in Tasmanian waters would really have a massive effect on the Tasmanian community and local fishermen. To know that there is a massive trawler out there of a size of 142m long that is using a net more than double the size of the ship its self (300m long) and with an opening of 35m. The allowance of a super trawler into our waters could be the start of losing jobs with local fishermen not being able to catch the amount they need because the Jack Mackerel and Rebait’s population has declined causing the higher consumers on the food chain that consume the Redbait and Jack Mackerel to decrease also this will have an immense effect on the ecosystem and other food chain’s and webs.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

 

Matthew Denholm, Rebecca Puddy (2012) ‘Calls for full ban on super-trawler grow ‘

Available From: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/calls-for-full-ban-on-super-trawler-grow/story-fn59niix-1226465085504

Accessed on 8/9/2012.

 

Bill Brown (2012) Will the super trawler Abel Tasman (Margiris) destroy our fisheries?

Available from: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/07/16/3546776.htm

Accessed on 8/9/2012

 

 

 

 

Bid to Ban the Burqa

In April this year, a law was passed in France; Europe’s biggest Muslim population, banning the wearing full-face veils in public places. In Australia, there has been an ongoing debate in the media in which numerous people have proposed a bid to ban the wearing of burqa’s in public places.

It seems the online media predominantly shows the story from one side; being the side that is for the banning of the burqa. So the question of whether the Muslim women who wear burqas are represented fairly and honestly in the media should be asked.

In an article written by Cory Bernardi, a senator for South Australia, he says “the burka is no longer simply the symbol of female repression and Islamic culture, it is now emerging as the preferred disguise of bandits and n’er do wells” and also states that “the burka has no place in Australian society”. In the article he talks about an incident in which someone used a burqa to disguise his or her identity to rob a man in Sydney. He also raises a number of other reasons for the banning of the burqa. He says “that the burka represents the repressive domination of men over women”. Bernardi writes about female equality being one of the key values in our secular society and that for woman to be covered in such a repressive manner does not adhere to Australian values.

These opinions about woman’s rights and equality are one’s that can be seen in a majority of the articles that are for the banning of the buqra. However the after much searching on the Internet, I found very little information into the insight of the opinions of any Muslim woman. This could be seen as an injustice of the truth because they are not represented fairly.

It is not compulsory for women who follow the Islamic religion to wear the burqa. Therefore it can be assumed that it is a personal choice to wear it. It’s all very well to say that you have their best interests in mind, but if you don’t know how these Muslim women feel about the issue, then an accurate assumption cannot be made. From my understanding, most Muslim women in Australia have made a conscious and educated decision to wear the veil and feel empowered by it. In the end, I get the feeling that the real issue here is not that people think that females are oppressed and forced to wear the burqa against their will, it’s the fact that people no longer feel safe not knowing the identity of some individuals. After just a few incidents in which the burqa was misused, does not mean it should be banned. The claim made by senator Cory Bernardi that the burqa is “un-Australian” is one that I find to be untrue. Personally I think that the banning of the burqa is un-Australian. As an Australian I have pride in our multiculturalism and acceptance of different cultures. There is a fine line between a woman’s rights and her religious freedom, and frankly it should be totally up to them to make their own decision within their own believes.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Gaurdian  2012, France begins ban on niqab and burqa, The Gaurdian, viewed 13 September 2012, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/11/france-begins-burqa-niqab-ban>

Cory Bernardi, CB  2012, The Drum Opinion, ABC, viewed 13 September 2012, http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/33978.html.

Virginia Haussegger. (2010). The burqa is a war on women. Available: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/the-burqa-is-a-war-on-women-20100520-vnp3.html. Last accessed 10 September 2012.

 

Syrian Civil War, Daraya Massacre

Syrian Civil War: Daraya Massacre

The civil war in Syria between the FSA (Free Syrian Army) and Syrian forces has been an ongoing battle for the past 17 months. On the 28th of August the violence and terror of the Syrian war reached new heights, with the death of over 400 innocent civilians in the Syrian town Daraya at the hands of Syrian troops.

The government troops were raiding houses in search of terrorists and explosives, but it was more a massacre than a raid as many surviving Daraya residents were saying. One resident, Abu Kinan was talking to the Guardian about the massacre and said “One of the massacre survivors told me that when the Syrian army stormed their alley, they put more than 50 people up against the wall. As they began spraying them with bullets, he threw himself to the floor. He was covered with blood though he was not shot. He pretended that he was dead. Four of his family members were killed.” Other survivors also mentioned the executions of families in their houses during raids and the shooting of fleeing civilians.

One rebel activist said he saw an 8 year old get shot in the back while she was fleeing with her parents. “They were trying to flee the army raids. Three bullets hit her in the back and her parents brought her to a makeshift hospital. Nothing could be done for her.” Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad later portrayed the massacre in Daraya as counter-terrorism operation and that the town of Daraya is now cleansed of terrorists.

Abu Mua’tasim, another Daraya resident also gave more information on the house raids and also had something to say about the Daraya massacre, “The Syrian army stayed in some of the houses. One belonged to my friend. People were forced to serve them food and tea. Just before they were leaving they killed the people in the house …I know the family.”

The war has since escalated since the Daraya massacre, with the FSA rebels shooting down a military helicopter over Damascus during a fierce battle between the FSA and government troops, where also over 100 lives were lost. Omar Al-Qabooni, FSA spokesman for the Badr Battalion in Damascus said “It was revenge for the Daraya massacre.”

The rapid escalation of the Syrian war has sparked warnings from various western leaders such as French president François Hollande and American president Barack Obama that the use of chemical weapons will result in direct intervention from their countries.

The rapid deteriorating state of Syria and its people has created much debate between the UN and other Western countries about whether to get involved or not. It is my opinion due to the recent events in Syria and the rising death toll of Syrian people that direct intervention is necessary to prevent further terror and chaos from spreading throughout Syria. I do though understand the need to stop terrorism as it is the world’s greatest security threat today and preventing terrorism saves lives. But the government troops are killing innocent civilians, which is still intolerable. Syria needs a temporary outside force to keep the peace while the Syrian people decide if they want a provisional government or not. Syria is in the middle of a civil war and revolution, that needs the guidance of another country to prevent another Daraya massacre but not too much interference so as the create the sensation of imperialism and to spark a retaliation from the people of Syria.

By Matt Cree

Bibliography:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/combat-chopper-down-as-fighting-rages-in-syria-capital-damascus/story-e6frg6so-1226459323783

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/28/syria-worst-massacre-daraya-death-toll-400?newsfeed=true

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/syria-darayya-massacre-1281625

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/civilian-massacre-renews-sense-of-urgency-in-syrian-conflict/article4504265/?cmpid=rss1

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1686483/Syria-UN-outcry-over-massacre

 

 

Call For School Weigh ins to Fight Fat

I have noticed from this article that there are a lot of different opinions on what is being discussed. According to “experts” Australian children should be weighed and measured regularly at school to help tackle childhood obesity. 

Researches from Deakin University’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre have been trying to gather more recent information to address the issue of Childhood obesity, but their efforts doing so have been restricted by out-dated data.

Deakin University’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre believe opening a federal government based program monitoring childhood obesity would help achieve to lower the rate of childhood obesity and would be a “fundamental component of prevention”.

Another positive opinion from researches who wrote in the journal Paediatric Obesity agreed this program would be a smart and helpful idea and the absence of such a good program meant Australia was falling behind other countries in measuring childhood obesity and evaluating strategies aiming at reducing it.

Obesity being a major health concern, the researchers are worried the problem will not get tracked or recognised if no data is being made. Monitoring obesity prevalence provides important data that can be used to track trends over time and identify areas at greater risk.

According to researchers led by Dr Katie Lacy there was no significant difference when height and weight measurements were taken based on a program in Arkansas in the US.  Some parents believed starting a program like this could affect children’s body image, and might jump start bullying or embarrassment.

In the Arkansas program there were no increases in teasing, weight concerns or unhealthy dieting among adolescents after three years of measurements. The researchers noted that problems could be avoided by taking height and weight measurements privately, and keeping the individuals result personal.

Tim Olds, Professor of health sciences from the South Australia University said that those taking part in the voluntary program were not given individual data. Doing so avoids the downside of parents reacting or stressing about the results given from their child’s measurements. Tim Olds, involved in an anti-obesity program explains that the program wants population-level data, which doesn’t tell them much about the individual child.

A dissimilar opinion from health sociologist, Samantha Thomas states that more effort was needed to understand the causes of unhealthy behaviour in adolescents rather than just basic measurements of height and weight. ”Sometimes we can become really obsessed with numbers on a scale but what we really want to think about and encourage is healthy behaviours. Sometimes weight doesn’t reflect whether a kid is engaging in healthy behaviours or not,” she said.

It is still unknown whether the Australian government would consider a program to weigh and measure children in schools.

My opinion is I believe there are more ways other than measuring children and somewhat exposing their personal results. I think it is more so the parents job to control and help their child’s unhealthy behaviour. It shouldn’t be the government’s job to do so. Taking daily measurements of adolescents, in my opinion, isn’t going to change the child’s lifestyle and habits.

It is said that after three years of measurements, teasing, weight concerns and unhealthy dieting had stopped. This tells me that obviously before three years, there would have been teasing, bullying and weight concerns in children beforehand. Therefore, this program has been mentally unhealthy for children, making adolescents experience embarrassment and so forth.  I can imagine this would cause stress and put more pressure on children in school.

An alternative suggestion might be regular weight and height check-ups at the child’s local GP. Involving schools in this issue won’t help anyone benefit from it. With schools running activities and after school programs, immunizations, and so on, there is enough for teachers to balance let alone daily height and weight measurement check-ups. 

 

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/call-for-school-weighins-to-fight-fat-20120826-24uix.html

http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features20Sep+2009

http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/main/lib310132/53_who_collaborating_centre_for_obesity_prevention.pdf

http://theconversation.edu.au/profiles/tim-olds-2759

http://www.jpedhc.org/article/S0891-5245(02)88325-0/abstract

Plain Packaging Debates

Will plain packaging decrease the productivity and sales of cigarettes nationally? It doesn’t take a genius to know that smoking is one of Australia’s major health risks. To indicate the high rate of tobacco related deaths, studies currently show that more deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. According to The Fix, nicotine is the third most addictive drug after heroin and crack cocaine and is proven to be more addictive than crystal meth, cocaine and methadone.

It has taken two years for the proposal for cigarette plain packaging to be passed through parliament; from December 1st 2012 plain packaging will be introduced. The packaging will be olive brown with the main feature as the usual health risk adds covering most of the packet. The brand will also be the least dominant feature of the packaging. The brand name will be displayed in a small basic font at the bottom of the packet with no logo.

Plain packaging is a marketing ploy to improve health in Australia as the first country to introduce plain packaging. Plain packaging will not stop already fully addicted smokers, but the scheme does stand a chance of defacing the attraction to not yet addicted smokers. People who already smoke will continue to purchase cigarettes because they buy them for the cigarette, and not the brand. On the other hand not yet addicted smokers or people who don’t have dependence have less desire to purchase and consume cigarettes because it is not the brand that is being promoted, it is the health risk that falls upon smoking. If less of Australia’s youth take up smoking then the less smokers Australia will have in the future, and less health problems. If Australia’s health funds do not have the demand to supply money for patients with smoking related illnesses, it will create a greater budgit in other health sectors.

“This measure is part of a tool box of initiatives to make smoking less attractive,” (Terry, K Quit Tasmania manager of cancer control and quit services)

As there is currently no evidence that plain packaging for tobacco will consumers, although there are many critics. It would appear practical to implement this initiative. Australia is the first country to implement plain packaging. If a 1-5 year study was implemented to base evidence on whether the method is affective. There needs to be more public involvement with the issue. Such as surveys and open debates. This will help to create awareness and people will then be able to form their own opinion on the issue rather than see it from a bystander’s point of view so that they can be more involved. Of course there is the obstacle of legal and marketing issues that make this difficult.

Regardless of the change in the minimalism of cigarette packets, people who smoke will not change their current perspective. This is simply because the health campaign is pushing on them what they already know and have chosen to ignore. What will be affective is prevention of future smokers and Australia’s youth taking up smoking. As a result the mortality rate will decrease if less young people start smoking and smoking related illnesses decline.

 Keely Lean

 

 

 

 


 

Super Trawler? Yes or No?

The Margiris

The super trawler Margiris is currently at port in Port Lincoln, South Australia. The Margiris is supposed to trawl for a quota 18,000 tonnes redbait and jack mackerel every year. This will be the largest trawler ever allowed to Fish in Australian waters, at a length of 142 metres long. The Margiris is hoping to change its name to The Able Tasman.  The vessel can process up to 250 tonnes of fish a day and its net is 600 metres long with an opening of 100 metres to 200 metres wide.

Opposition

The Margiris has come under scrutiny by members of parliament, independent MPs, Greenpeace groups, Scientists and local fishermen and anglers due to mainly its impressive quota. Some groups say that a quota, not of this size but a large quota should be shared between lots of smaller boats. This would lower the risk of catching other marine species and would create more jobs for Australia.  

Most Greenpeace groups raise the issue of, “what will happen to the environment?” Greenpeace activists, some animal welfare groups and Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke are worried about the protection and conservation of not only redbait and Jack mackerel but also the welfare of animals such as dolphins, sharks, albatross, seals and whales. There have been reports of large fishing trawlers crushing some of these animals to death. And worry that the Margiris hasn’t got the safety requirements to give such sea creatures safe from similar fates. Gerry Geen, head of Seafish, stated that they placed underwater cameras to nets to observe how animals react to the nets and that the Margiris has a safety hatch to filter out anything that isn’t in the stated quota. Though some scientists have come forward and said that these methods have never been tested on a vessel of this size.

Another issue facing the trawler is the data used for the allowing of the 18,000 tonne quota. Some scientists, politicians and Greenpeace groups have accused Seafish of using ten year old data when deciding on the quota. Graham Pike; AMFA’s Small Pelagic Resource Assessment Group and a leading recreational fishing activist, said that the 18000 year quota was based on flawed science and a ten year old assessment of mackerel stocks.

Questions have also been raised as to Gerry Geen’s involvement in the proceedings of the Margiris. Senator Ludwig said AFMA had received no application for the Margiris to fish in Australian waters. And Recreational fishing and conservation representatives rejected a doubling of the quota of 36000 tonnes before the Margiris docked in Port Lincoln.

There is an upside to this story though, the Margiris could be denied access to any ports for the ports is owned by port authorities and not the Commonwealths responsibilities. Port authorities can deny access of any port to the Margiris, not even Gerry Geen can make the authorities let the vessel enter.

Support

The only plus side to letting the Margiris, or “The Abel Tasman” as it is now called, to trawl Australian waters is that it would create 45 local jobs in Tasmania in its on shore processing plant. But even this has its hidden secrets; the Margiris has on deck refrigeration and processing station. In my opinion, even if the Tasmanian processing plant was opened its promised 45 jobs would either be cut back rapidly or the plant would be shut down due to cost cuts.

However, some experts from the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, the CSIRO and the South Australian Research and Development Institute, six scientists say that the 18000 tonne quota would not harm the environment. These scientists compared this to South Australia’s sardine fishing, which showed that a larger quota in a smaller area showed no negative impact on the environment. However this did not stop the signing of 3000 Tasmanians on a petition to stop the Margiris.

The last word

The super trawler is now on its way home after the Margiris was banned from fishing in Australian waters for two years. On the September 20 the Margiris was told to leave Australian waters. Two years isn’t a very long time, but with the over powering opposition that the public gave I think it would be highly unlikely that the Margiris will be allowed to fish in Australian waters.

 I personally hope the Margiris and other large fishing vessels stay out of Australian waters. We should try to conserve our environment. I think if Australia needs local jobs so badly that we have to ask other countries to send fishing boats just so as to gain 45 local jobs then I think we need to change. I think our Governments should focus on creating more jobs that help the environment not destroying it.

 

             Bibliography

“Abel Tasman Could be banned from Today”: Matthew Denholm, Tasmania correspondent From: The Australian September 20, 2012: accessed 24/09/12

•          http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1688551

“Tasmania Fired up Over Super Trawler”

SBS News: accessed 3/09/2012

“Feared Impact of Super Trawler Margiris Enrages NSW Anglers”: Malcolm Holland

The Daily Telegraph August 24 2012: Accessed 24/08/2012

 

“Trawler Company Fights Back with Science” No known writer

21 August 2012: Accessed 21/08/2012

Child Prostitution: A global Issue

A childhood is a time for growing, learning and developing both psychologically and physically. Most are remembered as a time of personal growth filled with warm-hearted memories, yet for the minority of children across the world it is a time of constant physical and mental abuse, due to child prostitution. Child prostitution is a global issue, according to a report published from the Lancet, an estimated one million children across the world are forced into prostitution every year, the total number of prostituted children may even be as high as ten million. In poverty struck countries such as Nepal, prostitution is fast becoming a tourist attraction, with authorities turning a blind eye to this corrupt and immoral practice. In South East Asia it is estimated that 270,000 – 400,000 children are involved in prostitution. With such issues becoming more publicised in western civilization, people often fall under the false impression that it is a problem exclusive to poverty struck countries, however the phenomenon of human trafficking has no boundaries, it has happened and is currently present in America, England and Australia.

In America, approximately 250,000 children are trafficked each year, the average age of entering prostitution is thirteen. Many of these children entered prostitution from homelessness or as an escape from an abusive situation. The documentary Very Young Girls introduces the audience to girls who have been manipulated by their pimps, beaten and raped, sold for sex and then sent to jail. GEMS is a free profit organisation aiming to stop sexual exploitation in New York City. One of the girls featured in the film was lured from her home, raped, beaten, held captive, and sold for sex. The police find the missing girl, although it is not the men that are in trouble, rather the 14 year old girl forced to work as an illegal prostitute. In America, a man having sex with an underage girl is rape, however if the child accepts money for sex the man is now a “John” and is let off with a small fine, the girl involved however is usually prosecuted as a prostitute and sent to spend time in detention. The documentary features authentic footage two pimps had recorded while recruiting girls and documenting their day to day lives. The man recording was 32 years old, he stops a young girl in the street and asks her to get in the car to talk with him, this is the beginning of a vicious cycle. “They’re (the pimps) spending 110 percent of their time and energy recruiting, brainwashing, on making this girl feel loved and special and pulling her back in every time she almost leaves.” (GEMS therapy session, Very Young Girls) Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the documentary however, was the victim’s perception of their pimps. Some girls have been so brainwashed by their pimp, that they actually abandon help facilities like GEMS to go back to their pimp,  “First of all, im in love with my pimp. I’m ready to go, it’s hard, because your not going to loose your pimp. He’s not going anywhere. No matter what you will always have him.” (GEMS therapy session, Very Young Girls) The pimps fill a role in the severely emotionally damaged girls psychological state, weather it is the role of a father or a lover, the girls honestly believe that a man who beats, rapes and forces unwilling sex upon them cares about them, because it is the only kind of love they know.  In May this year two Sydney sisters were charged for holding a child prostitution ring, an article features the findings of a Perth social worker, stating that children as young as 12 had been working as prostitutes in inner city parks within the past year.

Child prostitution is a serious and relatively unknown issue in the western world, the documentary ‘Very Young Girls’ provides an insight into the perspective of the children and pimps involved and it is highly recommended that you watch it. Child prostitution is an appalling problem, and whether it is happening in Asia, USA, England or Tasmania; it is our basic duty as human beings to acknowledge that those children deserve a childhood worth remembering.

Bree Postma

ABC News, 2012, Sister’s refused bail over child prostitution, accessed 13 September 2012 < http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-14/sisters-refused-bail-over-child-prostitution/4261842>

Phillips, Y. 2010,  Girls as young as 12 working as child prostitutes, accessed 12 September 2012, < http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/girls-as-young-as-12-working-as-child-prostitutes/story-e6frg13u-1225815484530>

Dhaker street children’s project, 2011, Child prostitution – The facts,  accessed 8 september, < http://www.restlessbeings.org/projects/dhaka-street-children/child-prostitution-the-facts>

David Schizgall, Nina Alvarez, Swinging T productions, 4 July 2008,  USA, documentary, Very Young Girls,

Frundt, T. 2011, Pimped out: Child prostitution in America, accessed 8 September 2012, < http://www.fem2pt0.com/2011/10/19/pimped-out-child-prostitution-in-america/>

Willis, B. 2002, child prostitution: global health burden, research needs, and interventions, accessed September 9 2012, <http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(02)08355-1/abstract>

“Is David Walsh Guilty?”

Gambling is a form of risk taking behaviour, of which many people partake in everyday. The people that try their luck quite often lose and suffer the aftershocks with their lifestyle, friendships and family relationships. There is however a way people have made the chance of winning far greater. David Walsh was one of those people. He was born in 1961 in Tasmania and he is to this day a multimillionaire.

David obtained his wealth through his efforts in gambling. David came in contact with Zeljko Ranogajec, they became friends. The two of them spent some time in sydney where they wagered in larger pools. They created a club called The punters club which consisted with 19 members. The Club had become very sophisticated and had later expanded into sporting events such as horse racing dog racing and the like. David used his fortune to purchase many different pieces of art. in 2001 he invested in a small museum in Berriedale peninsula, that he called ‘Moorilla Museum of Antiquities’. In 2007 he closed the museum to undergo in renovations worth over 75 million dollars, which went on for another 3 and a half years. In 2011 the reopening went ahead and MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) had created a unique tourist attraction for Tasmania.

Although he has made an enormous fortune along the way with investment of about 180 million dollars in Mona, he is now under the threat from ATO (Australian Tax Office) in a retrospect tax of over 37.7 million dollars plus interest. The ATO are right in taking the money, it is in our law. No one should be able to dodge taxes if others are made to pay even if it is over 37 million dollars. David Walsh disagree’s, he is fighting against the ATO believing that he should not have to pay the amount of tax given.

In a recent report provided by ABC Lateline in July 2012 gives David Walsh’s personal opinion from questions given to him about his fees. In the interview he states that the ATO told him he had to pay 7 million dollars in tax in 2003 and was never asked for a interview to explain the the increasing tax being handed to him. Hamish Fitzsimmons the reporter says the ATO say that he is in a business and they have charge him more for every year. David argues and quotes; “according to the ATO’s definition of a business, I say no, we don’t try to minimize the risk, we dont keep records and we dont employ staff”. There is however a flaw with what he says, a business doesn’t have to be run by a boss paying his staff it can any form of a group of people receiving profits annually without loss or gain.

There are mixed opinions over whether Walsh should pay his way in tax bills;  some have commented suggesting it would be unjust for the government to enforce this bill due to his overwhelming support from him to Tasmanian tourism. Lara Giddings, Tasmanian’s Premier states “an average visitor who comes to see MONA actually stays around about nine nights in Tasmania. So the flow-on for our restaurants, our wider tourism community is very big”. This has reflected our states gain from Mr Walsh’s efforts.

Despite David Walsh’s plea to resist the taxation demands, the Government have proceeded with the bill. The debate over Walsh’s taxes remain as a hurdle for MONA’s development as this may have have an effect on further maintenance costs.

by Tom Mitchell

Adrian Lowe and Andrew Darby (2012) ‘Support floods in for MONA founder in tax row’ [online] http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/support-floods-in-for-mona-founder-in-tax-row-20120725-22oy5.html [accessed: 6th September 2012]

Angus Grigg And Hannah Low (2012) ‘The Gambler’ [online] http://afr.com/p/national/the_gambler_GwoSmf5IXaVFjmpyYXNu9J [accessed: 5th september 2012]

Hamish Fitzsimmons (2012) ‘MONA founder claims ATO backflip on tax’ [online] http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2012/s3551796.htm [accessed: 7th September 2012]

Mathew Denholm, Tasmanian correspondent (2012) ‘MONA in ‘precarious’ spot as tax office chases gambler David Walsh’s millions’ [online] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/treasury/mona-in-precarious-spot-as-tax-office-chases-gambler-david-walshs-millions/story-fn59nsif-1226418380383 [accessed: 6th september 2012]

Vanda Carson, Daily Telegraph (2012) ‘Millionaire gambler and art collector David Walsh hits back at the Australian Taxation Office claim’ [online] http://www.news.com.au/money/money-matters/millionaire-gambler-and-art-collector-david-walsh-hits-back-at-the-australian-taxation-office-claim/story-e6frfmd9-1226425030341 [accessed: 6th september 2012]

Wikipedia (2012) ‘David Walsh (art collector)’ [online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Walsh_(art_collector [accessed: 5th September 2012]

Anders Breivik: An Insane Debate

When you hear the term insane, what do you think of? Do you imagine homeless, drunk people, staggering down the street? Do picture asylums filled with long haired, wild-eyed patients, restrained by a strait jacket?

Or perhaps you see Anders Behring Breivik, the man responsible for the deadliest attacks in Norway since WWII. The man that in just over three hours killed 77 people in a bomb attack and a shooting spree. Many thought that Breivik was insane, just a broken man with a broken mind. Others believed he was a terrorist, out to bring down the government. Either way, it was decided, he was a murderer. But even after a Norway court declared him sane and sentenced him to 21 years in prison, the most important question still remains; how is it possible that this man is not insane?

But what exactly is the definition of insanity? In terms of the law, someone who is found insane is someone who is unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy, and is subject to impulsive and erratic behaviours.

This explanation seems to fit in with Breivik’s first psychiatric evaluation, prior to his trial. Breivik, it was suggested, seemed to be suffering from paranoia schizophrenia, a condition in which a person believes that someone, either an individual or an organization, is plotting against them. The court seemed happy with this analysis, hoping to categorise Breivik’s actions as those of a madman, someone who could be locked away in an asylum somewhere in the countryside.

But family and friends of those killed in the attacks were not going to stand for that. They knew that if Breivik was declared mentally unsound then he would be cared for in state-of-the-art facilities, and more importantly, he would be allowed to appeal his sentence every three years, making it far more likely that he would be released early.

Breivik was therefore subject to a second psychiatric evaluation. It concluded that he was not psychotic prior to or during the attacks, and this time he was diagnosed with narcissist personality disorder. This second analysis meant that Breivik was fully accountable for his actions on and before the 22nd of July, 2011.

In a strange twist of events however, it appeared that both Breivik and the public wanted the same outcome from the trial; Breivik to be declared sane. But while the public just wanted a longer sentence for the killer, Breivik worried that if he were found to be insane then his political message would lose its credibility, making him just another ‘crazy.’

But since Breivik was now deemed responsible for his crimes, the world waited with bated breath to see what could possibly have caused a man to kill 77 people in cold blood.

However, if the world had hoped to get any sort of justifiable answer, they were sorely mistaken.

Accused of “destabilizing or destroying basic functions of society” and “creating serious fear in the population,” Breivik responded with a 13 page statement, outlining his personal beliefs, and the reasons behind the attacks.

Breivik is a far right-wing extremist fuelled by a hatred of Muslims and Marxists. In a manifesto he published on the day of the attacks, Breivik speaks of his loathing of multiculturalism, at one point describing it as ‘evil;’ “Multiculturalism is an evil ideology that forces itself upon us.” Breivik finished his statement with the following; “The attacks were preventative attacks in defence of Norwegian culture and my people. I acted from the principle of necessity on behalf of my people, my religion, my ethnicity, my city, and my country.”

 

In the next breath he demanded to be acquitted of all charges.

 

After reading both his statement and manifesto, it is obvious that Breivik spent a long time planning for his attacks. He even went to the trouble of buying a farm so he could legally buy the 6 tonnes of fertiliser he used to create his bomb. He also bought a police officer uniform, used to lull the teenagers he killed into a false sense of security. Upon arrest Breivik went quietly, not resisting the SWAT team that caught him. In court he informed the world of his beliefs, calling for others to follow in his lead.

Despite his 21 year sentence and sanity ruling, we still need to ask ourselves if these are the thoughts and actions of a sane man. However one sentence is all we need to sum up the vicious killer.

 

Anders Breivik is perfectly sane but completely mad.

 

Alicia Brown

 

Bibliography

 

Hamilton, A. (2012) ‘Anders Breivik’s Opening Statement, Day 2 (April 17, 2012)’ [online] http://www.counter-currents.com/2012/05/anders-breiviks-opening-statement/ [accessed: 6 September 2012]

Thermopylae, A. (2012) ‘The Commander Ander Breivik’s Report’ [online]. http://breivikreport.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/anders-breivik-trial-friday-august-24.html  [accessed: 4 September 2012]

Orr, D. (2012) ‘Anders Behring Breivik’s not a terrorist, he’s a mass-murderer’ [online]. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/27/breivik-not-terrorist-insane-murderer[accessed: 3 September 2012]

Left Flank. (2012) ‘The Breivik verdict: Justice for his victims & a setback for the Right’ [online]. http://left-flank.org/2012/08/25/the-breivik-verdict-justice-for-his-victims-a-setback-for-the-far-right/ [accessed: 6 September 2012]

Tietze, T. (2012) ‘The importance of the Anders Breivik verdict reaches beyond Norway’ [online]. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/24/anders-breivik-verdict-norway1 [accessed: 4 September 2012]

Loughnan, A. (2012) ‘Anders Breivik is guilty: the fine line between bad and mad’ [online]. http://theconversation.edu.au/anders-breivik-is-guilty-the-fine-line-between-bad-and-mad-9068 [accessed: 29 August 2012]

Beaumont, P. (2012) ‘Anders Behring Breivik: profile of a mass murderer’ [online]. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/23/anders-behring-breivik-norway-attacks [accessed: 29 August 2012]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Free the Celebrities

As Prince Harry makes huge headlines across the media after the incident in Vegas, I fail to understand how and why people love to follow the lies and scandals of celebrities. Celebrities do not deserve the lies and speculation that the tabloids make everyday.

 

People often think being in the public eye automatically means that the public has a right to know everything about that person. This is somewhat true in the case of politics as these people are running the country and the public have a right to know and question their values and attitudes. However, what right do the public have to know everything about someone they don’t even know personally, just because they’re a celebrity.

 

The amount of lies that the tabloids tell is astonishing. A study done by Gawker.com analysed 20 months worth of five tabloids, revealing that four out of the five tabloids were below 50% accurate over all. The most inaccurate tabloid had a shocking 12% overall accuracy. Yet people continue to read lie after lie and believe it.

 

When people read or watch celebrity gossip, I think they tend to forget that everyone mistakes even without the paparazzi hot on their tails criticising every move they make. I wonder how many people stop and think hey I’ve done that before.

 

Celebrity’s lives have been ruined as a result of the paparazzi, even to the extent of needing medical assistance for depression and in extreme cases even committing suicide. For example, Twilight Actor Kristen Stewart has been in the limelight a lot lately, due to the controversial cheating scandal involving a married director, with two kids, Rupert Sanders and herself. Kristen has been hounded by the paparazzi so much she is now reportedly struggling with depression to the point where she is not taking proper care of herself. As much as I do not condone cheating, I do not think she deserves constant hounding from the paparazzi. She is not the only one who cheated yet she is taking all the blame even though the director was in a higher power of position and he is married with kids because she is more famous and her relationship with Robert Pattinson is so widely followed by twilight fans especially girls who can be quite protect over their “celebrity crushes”. Yes she cheated and yes that’s a horrible thing to do, but the millions of other people who have cheated are not broadcasted across the world. Additionally, people often don’t think about how this might affect the other person in the relationship, it would be hard enough dealing with the fact that the person you loved cheated on you, let alone being reminded about it everyday.

 

Furthermore ruining lives, Invasion of privacy is a big issue in the paparazzi/tabloid business. A recent example of this would be, the phone hacking scandal involving Lauren Pope and Prince Harry. Lauren is planning to sue News of the world after she discovered they hack her phone while she was romantically involved with Prince Harry, making it look like she had sold their personal information to make fast money, resulting in the end of her relationship with the Prince.

 

How many ruined lives and relationships, will it take for the million of people who read and watch the tabloids and celebrity gossip, to release that the people they are judging are real people with, on average, more than 50% lies being conveyed about them, just to make money. People like Kristen, have gone from being a happy little kid to a ruin young adult, struggling to hold in their tears. I would hate to be a celebrity. The tabloids and the paparazzi go way beyond the free of the press.

 

By Amelia Wilson

Bibliography:

Gawker (2012) ‘Which Tabloids Lie the Most?’ [Online]. Available from: http://gawker.com/5638480/which-tabloids-lie-the-most. [Accessed: 03 September 2012].

 

HollywoodLife.com (2012.) ‘Kristen Stewart DEPRESSED — Constant Crying After Cheating On Robert Pattinson’ [Online] Available from: http://hollywoodlife.com/2012/08/06/kristen-stewart-depressed-robert-pattinson-break-up-crying-after-cheating/. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

The Daily Beast (2012) ‘Jodie Foster Blasts Kristen Stewart–Robert Pattinson Break-Up Spectacle’ [Online] Available from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/15/jodie-foster-blasts-kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-break-up-spectacle.html. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

ReoCities (2012) ‘Tabloids & Paparazzi’ [Online]. Available from: http://www.reocities.com/Wellesley/2432/tabloid.html. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

Chris Nash (2012) ‘Freedom of the Press in Australia’ [Online]. Available from: http://www.safecom.org.au/press-freedom.htm. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

Entertainmentwise (2012) TOWIE’s Lauren Pope: ‘Prince Harry Relationship Ruined By Press’. [Online] Available from: http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/86697/TOWIEs-Lauren-Pope-Prince-Harry-Relationship-Ruined-By-Press. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

Infidelity Statistics – Truth About Deception. (2012) ‘Facts and Statistics About Infidelity’ [ONLINE] Available from: http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/cheating-and-infidelity/stats-about-infidelity.html. [Accessed 07 September 2012].

 

Latimes.com (2012) ‘A timeline of the Kristen Stewart cheating scandal’ [Online] Available from: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-kristen-stewart-cheating-timeline-rupert-sanders-robert-pattinson,735,1919686.story. [Accessed 07 September 2012].